Retired police Supt. Wally Sombero disclosed on Wednesday that former Bureau of Immigration deputy commissioner Al Argosino demanded “five folders,” which means P50 million, allegedly as bail money for the arrested Chinese workers in the casino operated by gambling tycoon Jack Lam during their meeting on Dec. 1.
Sombero said businessman Atong Ang, Lam’s lawyer Raymond Fortun and his two interpreters were at the meeting when the sacked BI official made the demand.
Ang is reportedly a partner of Lam in the casino junket operation at the City of Dreams in Pasay City.
Argosino had repeatedly denied any involvement in the P50-million bribe scandal at the BI, and insisted he was merely doing his job in building cases against Lam and his cohorts.
While conceding that he accepted P50 million from Lam given through Sombero, Argosino insisted he brought home the money to be used as evidence in the case that they were planning to file against the gambling mogul and the former police officer.
Argosino and lawyer Michael Robles, also a dismissed BI deputy commissioner, filed charges of bribery and corruption of public officials against Lam and Sombero before a Parañaque court.
Under intense grilling by Senator Chiz Escudero, Argosino broke down and cried, saying they were already being made to appear as guilty of corruption and bribery.
Robles also denied his involvement in the alleged bribery, and explained that he was made to believe that the P20 million given to him was for the bail of the Chinese workers arrested for working without permit in Lam’s casino at Fontana Park in Clark, Pampanga.
A Senate source said that Sombero bared that he received a second call from Argosino asking for an additional amount which he did not mention.
Sombero said he ignored Argosino’s demands since he said nothing happened in the case of the illegal Chinese workers despite Argosino receiving the P50 million.
The source added that Sombero heeded the advice of businessman Atong Ang not to trust Argosino.
Norma Ng, Lam’s interpreter, said that Sombero was not employed as Lam’s aide, and added that Lam called up Sombero on Nov. 25. Sombero reportedly promised to facilitate the meeting between Lam and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.
Ng, who was at the meeting at the Shangri-La Hotel in Global City last Nov. 26, said she does not know what Sombero and Aguirre talked about. He said Sombero was whispering to Aguirre all the time.
Ng also disclosed that a total of P60 million was given to Sombero contrary to the P50 million the former police had declared. He said the money came from casino stakeholders.
Argosino said he got only P28 million of the P30 million that was left with him since Sombero pocketed the P2 million for himself. He initially gave to Robles the P20 million for safekeeping.
The Senate blue ribbon committee, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, will resume its hearing on the immigration bribery.
Sombero, meanwhile, had asked the Senate to protect him, citing threats to his life.
