DAVAO CITY (June 1) –— The Sandiganbayan affirmed the plunder case against former Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Al Argosino for reportedly mulcting Macau gambling magnate Jack Lam in 2016.
In a resolution penned down by sixth division chair Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez, dated May 31, anti-graft court junked Argosino’s motion to dismiss the case against him saying the prosecution failed to allege in the information sheet the series of criminals acts and offense which he and his co-accused in the case committed to warrant the filing of a plunder case.
Argosino is charged with plunder along with his former Immigration Commissioner Michael Robles and retired police officer Wenceslao Sobreno Jr.
The three were charged after they reportedly received P50-million cash from Lam in exchange for the release of 1,316 Chinese nationals who worked at the Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Clark, Pampanga. Lam is the president of said establishment.
In the decision. Fernandez stressed ” Applying the ruling in the aforecited case, each instance of receiving or collecting a sum of money constitutes a separate act. Hence, the information in the case at bar alleges the commission of acts in series,” she stressed.
On November 24, 2016, Lam’s workers were arrested on charges of overstaying and for violating the immigration laws. Lam through Sobreno tried to facilitate the release by reportedly giving P50-million to Argosino and Robles.
The two returned the money but the Ombudsman came in and investigated the case.
Argosino and Robles later tried to come clean, saying they were simply holding the money in part of the ongoing online gambling investigation of Lam’s operations. The Ombudsman didn’t buy it.-ezc/NewsLine.ph
