By Czarina Nicole O. Ong
The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has denied the motion filed by former cop and Asian Gaming
Service Providers Association, Inc. (AGSPA) president Wenceslao “Wally” Sombero Jr. seeking to be detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center instead of the Quezon City Jail Annex at Camp Bagong Diwa.
Sombero is the co-accused of former Bureau of Immigration (BI) Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles in a plunder charge over the R50-million bribery scandal involving 1,316 arrested Chinese nationals on Nov. 27, 2016.
They were also charged with a violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code or Bribery; and P.D. 46, an act punishing local officials for receiving gifts from private individuals.
Argosino and Robles initially sought to be transferred to the PNP Custodial Center as well, but they decided to withdraw their motion.
In a resolution promulgated on April 17, the court highlighted the comment made by Chief Inspector Romulo Z. Flores II, chief of the Custodial Service Unit of the PNP, as it denied Sombero’s motion for transfer.
Flores said that for reasons of “practicality, frugality in using public funds and ensuring the safety and security of both the accused and government personnel,” the respondents should be jailed under the supervision of the BJMP.
