MANILA — The Sandiganbayan has denied the petitions for bail of two former Bureau of Immigration (BI) executives and a former police general who were accused of plunder in connection with the alleged PHP50-million bribe for the release of more than 1,000 Chinese nationals in 2016.
The Chinese nationals were detained in Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino Hotel in Clark, Angeles City, Pampanga allegedly for working without their respective working visas from the BI.
In a 48-page resolution dated Aug. 30, 2018, the Sandiganbayan 6th Division denied the petitions for bail of former BI deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles and former police general Wenceslao Sombero Jr.
In their petitions, Argosino and Robles asked the Sandiganbayan to grant them bail for their temporary liberty while Sombero asked the anti-graft court to admit his application for bail.
The Office of the Ombudsman charged the three with plunder in connection with the PHP50 million received by Argosino and Robles from Sombero at the City of Dreams Hotel, Parañaque City on Nov. 27, 2016.
The Sandiganbayan noted that Argosino and Robles themselves did not dispute the fact that the money came into their possession.
The Sandiganbayan maintained that its ruling is not a prejudgment of the guilt of the accused.
“The Court merely determined the weight of evidence for the purposes of bail,” it said. (Perfecto Raymundo, Jr./PNA)
