They were caught with their hands in the cookie jar?
But Bureau of Immigration (BI) Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles told a different story. The two, who just surrendered the P30 million to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday, reasoned out they were trying to entrap Chinese gambling mogul Jack Lam.
Lam, owner of the Fontana Leisure Park and Casino, allegedly gave P50 million for the release of 1,316 Chinese nationals who were arrested inside the Fontana complex on November 24. An illegal online gaming facility was discovered inside Fontana resorts.
The two BI officials have denied the extortion charge claiming that Lam supposedly paid the money for their help in processing the license of Fontana Casino.
Former police chief superintendent Wally Sombero, however, claimed the money was intended for the release of the Chinese nationals and not for the processing of the license of Fontana Casino, which was shut down by government authorities.
The whole Fontana complex was shut down by the state-run Clark Development Corporation, a day after the closure of the Fontana Casino.
Of the P50 million given to the BI officials, P18 million was allegedly given to BI intelligence division chief Charles Calima Jr. and another P2 million to Sombero, according to the two BI officials.
Both Argosino and Robles were appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Both were fraternity brothers of Duterte in the Lex Talionis fraternity in San Beda College of Law.
Aguirre said he felt “betrayed” by the two BI officials. The P30 million was temporarily deposited in a bank for safekeeping.