Aguirre wants BI deputy commissioners dismissed for corruption

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III has recommended the termination of deputy Immigration commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles from the service for alleged corruption.

 

In the letter to President Rodrigo Duterte signed Tuesday, Aguirre said that he is recommending dismissal over allegations that the two P50 million from gambling tycoon Jack Lam, as well as irregularities in Immigration bureau operations in Fontana leisure park in Pampanga in November.

 

The money was supposedly for the release of illegal Chinese workers found in Lam's illegal online casino.

 

"Because of the anti-corruption program of the government, it’s better that they be relieved (from their post)," Aguirre said in a press conference.

 

Both Argosino and Robles, however, have denied the accusations, and said that they were conducting an investigation. They said they were framed.

 

READ: 2 BI execs surrender P30-M casino ‘bribe’

 

The deputy commissioners already surrendered the remaining P30 million Tuesday.

 

Retired police officer Wally Sombero took custody of the P2 million, while the remaining P18 million is allegedly with the bureau's intelligence chief Charles Calima.

 

According to Aguirre, the Constitution prescribes that public office is a public trust and that officials are held in trust and confidence of the appointing authority.

 

"The separation of an erring official is made more apparent with the lost of such trust and confidence due to their failure to perform their respective duties beyond reproach," the letter read.

 

Aguirre wrote that other officials of the bureau could also be dismissed depending on the results of an investigation into the incident.