The ball is in Duterte’s hands

By Al S. Mendoza

 

THE fate of the two errant Immigration commissioners rests in the hands of President Duterte.

And their case can be answered this way:  Will Digong either detain or retain them?

It will all depend on how the President would appreciate the tandem’s defense.

Digong was in Cambodia while I wrote this.

Michael Robles and Al Argosino are the Immigration’s deputy commissioners allegedly involved in bribery.

They were caught on CCTV cameras carrying P50 million stuffed in five bags.

The money was supposed to have been given to them by Jack Lam.

This was last week at the City of Dreams, an international casino house in Pasay City that has, among others, Hollywood legend Robert De Niro as a major investor.

Lam, a big-time gambling operator, has casino joints in Fontana, Clark, Pampanga.

Lam’s 1,300 or so Chinese employees there were arrested by Immigration agents for working without permits.

Apparently, they were set free in exchange of Lam’s P50-M payment to Argosino and Robles.

Wally Sombero, a retired police general and an alleged ally of Lam’s, allegedly brokered the money deal between the commissioners and Lam.

Sombero was supposed to have pocketed P2 million as commission.

It was also Sombero who exposed the alleged bribery to my kumpadre Mon Tulfo, who wrote about it in his Inquirer column.

Pareng Mon has threatened to sue Argosino and Robles for libel for linking him to the scam.

General Calima, the Immigration’s intelligence chief, also allegedly received P18 million from Argosino and Robles as hush money.

Calima has denied the accusation.  His deputy, Col. Eugene Chan, also disowned any participation in the crime.

Still, they were fired by Justice Secretary Vitaliano “Boy” Aguirre.

“I hired them and so, I have the power to fire them,” Aguirre said of the two.

Aguirre also said he could not kick Argosino and Robles out.

“I can only recommend their dismissal to President Duterte,” he said.  “Because the President appointed them, he alone has the power to fire them.”

Digong has yet to decide on what to do with Argosino and Robles, his brothers at Lex Talionis fraternity at San Beda.

In their defense, the two commissioners said: “We took the money as evidence of deep corruption in the Bureau of Immigration.  We knew we were caught on CCTV.  We were not born yesterday.”

Will Digong buy that?

*          *          *          *

Best wishes to Alvin Mendoza and Joy Aguilar, who tied the knot on Dec. 12.  Alvin is the youngest son of my brother, Cris who is married to Agnes of Bacolod City.  Joy is a teacher.  Alvin is the only brother of Tony Boy. Like Kapitan Bonifacio of Brgy. General Luna, I was also a Ninong. I pray that Dear God make Alvin and Joy happy as a loving couple now and for the rest of their lives.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments