Sombero denies bribing Aguirre, claims payoff of P50m to two immigration officials

February 16, 2017

Retired police officer Wally Sombero denied he was going to bribe Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre but only to present a proposal that gaming tycoon Jack Lam was going to pay his arrears in the casinos he operates in Fontana and Fort Ilocandia.

Sombero, who arrived from Canada to face the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday, added one immigration commissioner asked for P100 million to release the 1,316 alleged illegal Chinese workers caught in a raid at Fontana on November 2015.

But Aguirre said Sombero couched his offer in these words. “Sir, Jack Lam is a wealthy man. Nobody has been taking care of him for a long time.” Aguirre said after 10 minutes he left his meeting with Sombero.

Aguirre said told Sombero, "If you want the meeting to continue, do not corrupt my people."

After that Sombero met then Immigration Commissioner Al Argosino around 6pm. of November 26. Argosino, Sombero claimed, made the offer for P100 million to free the workers. The ex-police officer said he talked to Lam’s associates who raised the money.

"I’d like to make in the records that what happened in City of Dreams between 11 in the evening of November 26 up to 6:30 in the morning of November 27, no extortion or bribery happened. That is the payoff," Sombero said.

Only P 50 million was reportedly given in  a meeting between Sombero and Argosino, accompanied by former deputy commissioner Michael Robles, at the City of Dreams. This was caught on CCTV.

Sombero denied he was a fixer but he belongs to a group lecturing about online gambling.

Aguirre said they have filed seven types of cases against the 1,316 Chinese workers. Some have been deported, he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Lam’s operations closed last year Lam is reportedly out of the country.

Duterte recently declared he is going after illegal gambling.

Argosino and Lam, who have been sacked as deputy immigration commissioners for taking the money have filed criminal cases against Lam. Charles Calima, immigration intelligence chief, was also relieved of his post.

Aguirre said three conditions have to be met before Lam can be allowed to return. These are pay back taxes, regularize his operations by applying license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp and not to corrupt the Filipino people. DMS