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Manila Bulletin devider devider Ex-BI executive named as mastermind of P50 M extortion

Ex-BI executive named as mastermind of P50 M extortion

Published Jun 13, 2018 03:06 pm
By Czarina Nicole Ong Former Bureau of 
Immigration (BI) Deputy Commissioner Al Argosino has now been named as the main plunderer in the criminal charges involving the extortion of P50 million from 1,316 arrested Chinese nationals who were violating Philippine immigration laws back in 2016. The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has granted the motion filed by the prosecution to amend its Information on plunder against Argosino, his fellow BI Commissioner Michael 
Robles, and Asian Gaming
 Service Providers 
Association, Inc. (AGSPA) President Wenceslao Sombero Jr. Former Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Al Argosino (Jansen Romero / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Former Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Al Argosino
(Jansen Romero / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The three of them were charged with violating R.A. 7080 
or the act defining and penalizing plunder, as well as 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, which prohibits the giving gifts to public employees. "After a thorough review of the Information in the present case, the prosecution deems it imperative to amend the same to conform with the Consolidated Order dated November 23, 2017, of the Office of the Ombudsman," the motion read. In the Ombudsman's Consolidated Order, Argosino was singled out as the mastermind of the extortion. "It bears emphasis that Argosino is the main plunderer being the one who demanded for the total sum of P100 million, received through a series of two separate overt criminal acts and took ownership of a total of P50 million at the City of Dreams," the order read. The new Information now reads that Argosino, "by himself and/or in conspiracy with his co-accused" unlawfully amassed "directly or indirectly, ill-gotten wealth in the aggregate amount of P50,000,000." Argosino and his co-accused reportedly received the money within a span of three hours. The first was around 2 a.m. last November 27, 2016. At the time, Sombero received P20 million from Chinese gaming tycoon Jack Lam at the City of Dreams Manila in Parañaque City. The second act took place around 5:45 a.m., wherein Argosino and Robles received P30 million. Meanwhile, Chinese gaming tycoon Jack Lam has also been slapped with a violation of P.D. 46. for giving the money. Argosino, Robles and Sombero have yet to be arraigned for plunder. However, Argosino and Robles both pleaded not guilty to their charges of graft, bribery and a violation of P.D. 46. The three of them are currently being detained at the Quezon City Jail Annex of Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City because of their plunder charge, since it is a non-bailable offense.
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