Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said Bureau of Immigration (BI) Chief Jaime Morente has until 5 p.m. Thursday to return ₱20 million in alleged bribe money from gambling tycoon Jack Lam.
The amount is part of a ₱50 million bribe allegedly extorted by former BI Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Mike Robles in exchange for the release over 1,200 illegal Chinese workers detained at Lam’s casino in Clark, Pampanga, and to legalize the casino’s online operations.
In a memorandum issued Wednesday, Aguirre said the order was based on Morente’s admission that he assigned Charles Calima, former BI Intelligence chief, to conduct a counter-intelligence operation against Argosino and Robles.
“In order to preserve evidence of such extortion activity, you are hereby directed to turn over within 24 hours, the remaining ₱20 million to this Department for safekeeping or to the National Bureau of Investigation, the agency conducting the investigation on the alleged extortion incident,” Aguirre said.
Aguirre also ordered Morente to submit all reports from Calima’s counter-intelligence operation to the authorities. Aguirre sacked Calima and his assistant last week.
Read: Justice Secretary sacks Bureau of Immigration’s Calima and his assistant
BI Spokesperson Atty. Tonette Mangrobang said Thursday morning Morente “would wish to comply” with Aguirre’s directive before speaking to the media.
Mangrobang could not confirm to CNN Philippines if the ₱20 million would be returned.
Countering entrapment operations
Argosino and Robles denied the extortion allegation in a press conference, saying their meeting with Lam’s associate and alleged middleman, retired police officer Wally Sombero, was part of an entrapment operation against Lam to uncover corruption in the bureau.
Read: Immigration Deputy Commissioners Argosino, Robles: Our integrity is intact
After the conference, Argosino and Robles surrendered ₱30 million of the alleged bribe money to the DOJ, saying that Sombero got ₱2 million and Calima got ₱18 million.
Meanwhile, Sombero filed a graft case against the deputy commissioners, saying he was a government asset and that he conducted an entrapment operation with Calima’s help. Sombero also said Argosino demanded ₱150 million in bribe money from Lam.
Read: Immigration officials face graft charges over extortion scandal
Both Argosino and Robles have since resigned.
Read: Immigration Deputy Commissioners Argosino, Robles resign
CNN Philippines Correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
