(Eagle News) – It was a clear extortion attempt by former immigration commissioners who demanded P100 million for the release of 1,316 Chinese workers arrested in November last year.
This was the testimony of business associates and interpreters of Jack Lam who pointed to former associate commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles as the Bureau of Immigration officials who tried to get money from them, allegedly to pay for the bail of the Chinese workers.
“It was extortion,” said Alex Yu, a business associate of Lam who also served as his interpreter.
“Alam namin para sa bail, eh walang nangyari afterwards,” he said.
Charlie “Atong” Ang, another business associate of Lam said they sourced the P50 million “goodwill” money demanded by the two immigration commissioners from three firms –Lucky Tytanium, Bota Club, and Jimei. The last one was a company owned by Lam.
“Nagtiwala po kasi kami (We trusted them),” said Ang referring to the two immigration commissioners.
Former police officer, Wenceslao “Wally” Sombero during his testimony at the Senate blue ribbon committee Thursday said that Argosino made the P100 million demand last November 26.
They agreed that they would pay P50 million for the release of the detained Chinese workers. They noted and were also puzzled that there were no cases filed against the Chinese workers after they had been arrested.
Sombero said he then organized the meeting to ask for the release of 800 Chinese workers out of the total 1,316 because they have working visas.
“Nung paghatid kay Secretary sa lobby, naghihintay po sa akin si former deputy commissioner Argosino sa labas at doon napag-usapan ‘yung tungkol doon. Ang sabi niya sa’kin, may nag-o-offer, hindi namin tinanggap kaya para ma-release lahat yan, kasi pag nagpiyansa ganoon din kamahal — pero doon po napupunta sa P100 million,” Sombero said quoting what Argosino allegedly told him.
After Sombero informed Lam’s interpreters and business associates of Argosino’s demand for “goodwill” money, this was relayed to Jack Lam.
Lam allegedly made the decision to pay the P50 million demanded by the BI commissioners as a business decision, since the arrest and continued detention of the workers harmed their gaming business in the Philippines.
“Ayaw niya (Lam) mag-abono. It’s too much for him. So he called people from China and they agreed on P100 million and it’s a business decision from them,” Sombero said.
Alex Yu said they decided on the initial amount of P50 million only.
Sombero said he told the commissioners that the pay-off would be at the City of Dreams so the transaction would be all documented by a CCTV camera of the said establishment.
“Ang arrangement ni Alex at kinommit (that was committed by) ni Mr. Argosino for the amount of P100 million with the initial amount of P50 million, lalabas yung Chinese workers,” Sombero said.
He said that he instructed two men, whom he only identified as “Martin” and “Garfield” to withdraw and carry the money. They money was given on November 27 to Argosino and Robles.
-Argosino’s call following up additional P50-M, recorded by Lam’s associates
But after the money was handed over to the two BI commissioners at the City of Dreams, Argosino allegedly made another call to Lam’s business associates on November 29, demanding for another P50 million.
Ang said he was called up by Norman Ng, another business associate of Lam, about Argosino’s demand for the additional P50 million.
“Sabi ko, sa aking salita, ‘Anong kalokohan yan?’ Sabihin mo na lang wala kang desisyon,” Ang said recalling what he told Ng to tell Argosino.
They then left after that.
“November 30, Wednesday, holiday. Wala pa ring nakakalabas na tao, holiday e. Dito na nagsimula ang gulo. December 1 nagpatawag na po ako ng ng meeting kay Atty (Siegfried) Fortun kasi magpapa-presscon na kami,” Ang said.
After they had lunch and while they were again meeting, Ang said Argosino then called by up Alex Yu by phone following up on the additional P50 million.
Ang then instructed Yu to put the call on “speaker” phone mode, so they could all hear what Argosino would say. They also recorded the phone call.
Yu testified that Argosino was asking for the “five folders” or the P50 million. He then told Argosino that they had already coughed up the P50 million goodwill money that was initially demanded, and that nothing had happened after that. There was no release of the detained Chinese workers.
“Tinatanong po niya (Argosino) sa akin kung nasaan yung five folders pa. Sabi ko naman, naibigay ko na yung P60 million kay Wally Sombero nang wala pa ring nangyayaring bail,” Yu said recalling the phone call from Argosino.
Argosino reportedly replied: “It’s up to you, the ball is in your hands. Pag walang five folders, walang mangyayaring release sa tao niyo.”
It was then that they realized that they were being taken for a ride by Argosino.
After an hour, Ang said, it was Sombero who called them up, asking if Argosino had already gotten in touch with Alex Yu.
Ang said that Argosino had indeed called Alex Yu up, but that they would not give him money anymore and that they would bare everything in a press conference.
Sombero allegedly told Ang and Yu that they should not give Argosino the P50 million additional money.
After that, the following day, December 2, Lam’s business associates, along with Lam’s lawyer, Siegfried Fortun held a press conference, exposing the two immigration commissioners.
The presscon was held at Kamuning bakery.
“Pagka-presscon namin, nagpa-presscon na rin si Wally, nagkagulo-gulo na,” Ang said.
