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10M positives for Duterte -

W ednesday, 14 December 2016

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Leila faces criminal raps in
For all her rants of the allegations against her
being a far
DoJ chief wants BI execs in La
By Benjamin B. Pulta and Conrado Ching Two
school fraternit
Written by Tribune Wires

Wednesday, 14 December 2016 00:00

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Speaker Alvarez confident on d

By Benjamin B. Pulta

Despite the growing opposition against the

death penalty bil

and Conrado Ching

Bicam passes P3.35-T budget fo

Two school fraternity brothers of President Duterte who were

The Duterte administration will likely meet its

target of en

appointed associate commissioners of the Bureau of

Economy outlook gets ADB upgr

Immigration (BI) will be recommended for dismissal in

Things continue to look up for the local

economy as the Asia

connection with their involvement in extorting money from

online gaming operator Chinese gaming tycoon Yon Lok Lam alias Jack Lam, Justice
Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said.
Aguirre said he can only recommend the relief of associate commissioners Al Argosino and
Michael Robles to President Duterte since they are presidential appointees.

China warns Trump of crushing

Beijing, China China offered its sternest
rebuke yet to Do
China warns Trump of crushing
Beijing, China China offered its sternest
rebuke yet to Do

Argosino and Robles admitted receiving P50 million in cash from Lam but claimed it was part
of the ploy for an investigation against the Macau-based businessman.
In a press briefing, the two embattled BI officials said the P18 million of the P50 million went
to BI intelligence chief Charles Calima, while former police official Wally Sombero got P2
million.
While Deputy Commissioners Argosino and Robles had acknowledged receipt for custody

Rody to Morales: Probe me but

AS HOUSE FILES ETHICS RAP Vs DE5 By
Ted Tuvera and Angie M.
Trouble brews within Kabayan p
After being accused of alleged dishonorable
behavior durin

of P48-million on November 27, 2016 with Wally Sombero getting P2-million as future

Security execs shy away from S

evidence of corruption of public officials, the series of events that transpired showed a

Security officials are hesitant over an arms

deal with China

continuing link of corruption involving gambling magnate Jack Lam, his two interpreters
Norman Ng and Alexander
From page 1
Yu and General Charles Calima, a statement of both officials read.
Aguirre apparently did not buy the version of the two BI officials saying he felt betrayed by
Argosino and Robles, who are his fraternity brothers at Lex Talionis.
I am going to recommend to the President (Argosino and Robles) for their immediate relief

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from (their) position. Because of the anti-corruption program of the government, its better that
they be relieved, Aguirre told reporters.
Aguirre added he will recommend to the President the relief of other BI officials and
employees who might have been involved in similar activities, which he refused to identify.
The two BI officials showed the cash they accepted last November 27 from Sombero, who

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allegedly arranged for the release of the more than 1,200 Chinese nationals caught at the
Fontana Leisure Park, in Clark, Pampanga.
Holes in excuses
The two lawyers claimed they kept the money as evidence but did not arrest Sombero
because they have yet to prove his ties to Lam.

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Argosino denied they pocketed the money, and wanted that they have the money as evidence
of bribery to charge Lam.
We could have run away. We could have made our early retirement when the minimum wage
was less than P10,000 a month. You could just imagine the amount of money. I could not
have gotten this in my retirement from the government, Argosino said.
Argosino said they did not arrest Sombero and Calima because they dont have the capability
that time to arrest them.
Both Robles and Argosino filed criminal charges against Calima, Sombero and Lam.
The two filed a 30-day leave of absence supposedly to allow investigators a free hand to
conduct the probe.
Both BI officials, however, presented only P30 million to the media.
Right in front of you is the highest evidence of corruption of public officials, Argosino said in
a press conference pertaining to the bundles of cash.
This is the living evidence as to why President Duterte must come out in the open, pursue
corruption angle, and never allow a business entity that would thrive on paying government
officials, he added.
Hazing death convict
Argosino is no stranger to legal controversy.
Originally sentenced to four years in jail, he managed to talk his way out to two years
probation and then served a mere 10 months of probation which required regular reporting to
a probation officer in lieu of jail time.
Argosino got a slap in the wrist for his part in the killing of Raul Camaligan in 1991 during
initiation rights along with 13 others. After the group agreed to plead guilty to a lesser offense
of homicide, Argosino and the 13 were sentenced to four years in jail but convinced a judge
11days after their conviction to place them under probation instead of time behind bars.
The application for probation was granted in an order dated 18 June 1993 issued by Regional
Trial Court Judge Pedro Santiago. The period of probation was set at two years, counted from
the probationers initial report to the probation officer assigned to supervise him.
The judge would later shorten the probation period to a mere 10months. On 15 April 1994,
Argosino petitioned the Court to allow him to take the attorneys oath of office and to admit
him to the practice of law which was eventually granted.
Despite bending over backwards and resolving the matter in favor of Argosino eventually the
court at the time said (t)he practice of law is not a natural, absolute or constitutional right to
be granted to everyone who demands it. Rather, it is a high personal privilege limited to
citizens of good moral character, with special educational qualifications, duly ascertained and
certified.

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No power to dismiss
On my part, I can only make a recommendation because I dont have the power to dismiss,
Aguirre said.
Argosino and Robles were allegedly caught on video accepting money from Sombero who is
linked to Lam inside a casino mall in Paranaque.
Aguirre said he had seen the CCTV footage though he said he would not make an immediate
judgment.
He said BI Commissioner Jaime Morente had ordered Argosino, Robles and Acting
Immigration Intelligence Chief Police Director Charles Calima Jr. to answer the allegations
within 24 hours.
The two BI officials filed complaints for corruption of public officials and violation of
anti-wiretapping law against Lam and Sombero, acting Immigration intelligence chief Charles
Calima Jr. and two Chinese interpreters of the Chinese businessman before the Paraaque
City Prosecutors Office.
Based on the complaint affidavit, they alleged that Calima took P18 million from the P48
million supposedly to be shared to Sombero, and several others.
Aguirre said the DOJ accepted the money for safekeeping and without prejudice to the
ongoing investigation that is being currently made by the NBI and the BI.
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