2 BI execs return P30-M 'bribe' from Lam to DOJ, but Aguirre asks Duterte to fire them

2 BI execs return P30-M 'bribe' from Lam to DOJ, but Aguirre asks Duterte to fire them-                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     MANILA The two immigration officials being investigated for an alleged extortion on gaming tycoon Jack Lam on Tuesday turned over P30 million cash to the Department of Justice, saying they had kept it, not to accept bribes, but as evidence of wrongdoing against the Chinese investor in Clark.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said, however, they are not yet in the clear, and investigation proceeds. In fact, he recommended to President Duterte that they be dismissed.

Bureau of Immigration chief Jaime Morente had given associate commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles 24 hours to explain their involvement in the alleged payoff of as much as P50 million in cash, supposedly to effect the release of over a thousand illegal Chinese workers at Lam's operations at Fontana Leisure and Casino Park.

Argosino and Robles went to the Department of Justice Tuesday to hand over P30 million that they said had come from the gaming tycoon, a long-time investor in Clark whom DOJ chief Vitaliano Aguirre earlier accused of economic sabotage.

President Duterte last week ordered Lam arrested, even though formal charges had not yet been filed against him. He was placed on an Immigration hold order, even as BI said he flew back to Hong Kong last Nov. 29.

DOJ chief Aguirre himself received the P30 million from the two BI officials, for "safekeeping" before being placed in a bank.

The transfer to DOJ will show the money is intact and they never meant to use or benefit from it, the two commissioners said.

According to Argosino, the cash represents the strongest evidence of Lam's group's moves to corrupt public officials."This is our best evidence against the notorious illegal gambling operator in Fontana," he added.

Robles said they filed a criminal case in Parañaque City against Lam's group for violation of the wiretapping act. Also sued were Norman Ng, Alexander Yu, former police officer Wally Sombero who served as Lam's mediator-translator, and Charles Calima.

Aguirre said P18 million remains in the hands of Calima while P2 million is still with Sombero.

DOJ chief wants 2 officials fired

The DOJ chief stressed that despite the return of the P30 million, the two BI officials are not yet in the clear and investigation will continue.

In fact, Aguirre said he recommended to President Duterte the firing of the two officials, whose claim they took the money so they can catch Lam on a bribery case is weaker than the straightforward narrative by Lam's mediator-translator Wally Sombero that the two had asked for and gotten the funds.

"Because of the statement of Sombrero, as a matter of fact, they [Argosino and Robles] filed a leave of absence.  Not only them. I am recommending everyone in government service to be relieved from their positions if it shows in the investigation [that they are guilty of wrongdoing]," said Aguirre. 

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez weighed in, saying the two men should just resign "to save the President inconvenience and embarrassment." It is hard to deny the accusation as it was caught on video, "unless magpaturo sila kay Senator De Lima kung papano magsinungaling at pano magkaroon ng isang makapal na mukha [unless they get lessons from Senator de Lima on how to lie and how to sport a thick face]."

The two BI officials are fraternity brothers and friends of Duterte and Aguirre, and the DOJ chief said they felt "betrayed" by the acts of the two BI executives.

Argosino was named by Duterte to the post on Aguirre's recommendation.

The two men actively campaigned for Duterte in the May 2016 elections.

"They are my friends. Kasama ko yan sa pagkampanya. Kasama ko sila sa pag-defend kay Duterte. They are all our fraternity brothers kaya we are very close," Aguirre said.

Duterte, Aguirre 'betrayed' by frat brods?

It appeared, he said, that the two officials did not take seriously Duterte's campaign against corruption. "We felt betrayed.  We felt that they are not following the order of the President to go after corruption."

Aguirre said his recommendation to  fire the two men was based on "overall circumstances," and that the decision to dismiss them lies "ultimately with the President," as he can only recommend.

The DOJ chief said he had asked Cabinet Secretary Bong Go and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to convey his report to Duterte. 

Aguirre, meanwhile, noted the huge difference in the versions of Sombero and the BI officials. 

Sombrero said the money was given to effect the release of the Chinese illegal workers at Fontana but according to Argosino and Robles, they meant to use it to frame up Lam.

It was Sombero's version that was used by Aguirre as prima facie evidence and this is why he sought their dismissal.

Aguirre also wants immigration intelligence chief Gen. Charles Calima to also go on leave pending conclusion of the investigation.

According to Aguirre, even before the report broke that the BI officials accepted P50 million, he had learned of this, "kasi nakausap ko si Sombero [because I talked to Sombero]." There was no confrontation, he said, and all this was before [Ramon] Tulfo's report came out.

Aguirre could not say why the two BI officials did not move for Lam's arrest if they wanted to pin him down.

He said he learned the BI officials were meeting with Lam's group after he  had his own meeting with them at the Shangri-la Hotel at Bonifacio Global City.

He said only he and Wally had left the meeting, and "I don't know what happened. It appears na ang nangyari noong gabing yun, ay ito. "