The Senate Blue Ribbon committee chaired by Sen. Richard J. Gordon recommended yesterday the filing of a criminal complaint of plunder against those linked to the P50 million extortion scandal at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) related to the freeing of 1,316 illegal Chinese workers at an-line casino at Clark Field, Angeles city (Pampanga).
The committee’s 31-page report recommended the filing of plunder, direct bribery and graft against former BI immigration Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles.
The Senate body also recommended the filing of direct bribery against former BI intelligence chief Charles Calima for allegedly getting R18 million from Argosino and Robles at the time he was trailing them.
The committee also recommended that the alleged bagman, Wally Sombrero, be accused of corruption of public officials.
It, likewise, asked for a more in-depth probe of the alleged principal, Jack Lam, for the departure of the arrested illegal Chinese on-line workers.
The committee also condemned the apparent escape of Argosino and Robles of the crime of plunder because the P50 million was short of P1 million.
The crime of plunder involves the sum of R50 million or more. (Mario Casayuran)
