Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 25)— Two former commissioners of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and a retired policeman were sentenced to reclusion perpetua, or up to 40 years in prison, after they were convicted of plunder by the Sandiganbayan over a ₱50-million bribery case.
Former BI deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles were accused of receiving ₱50 million from Macau-based gambling tycoon Jack Lam. The amount was supposedly for the release of over 1,300 undocumented Chinese workers arrested in Lam’s casino in Clark, Pampanga in 2016.
The Sandiganbayan convicts former Immigration commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles of plunder for receiving ₱50 million from Macau-based gambling tycoon Jack Lam. They are sentenced to reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years in jail. | @eimorpsantos pic.twitter.com/1GVbLABIwS
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) June 25, 2021
Retired police officer Wenceslao Sombero acted as the middleman.
“The ill-gotten wealth accumulated, amassed, or acquired by accused, now under the custody of the concerned government agencies, is hereby forfeited in favor of the state,” the anti-graft court’s resolution read.
Argosino, Robles, and Sombero were also found guilty of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act — with penalties of imprisonment of six to 10 years and perpetual disqualification from public office.
Senator Richard Gordon, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee which investigated the case, called the conviction a “tremendous victory.”
“This is a victory for the people and our justice system,” Gordon said in a statement.
