Former BI officials drop complaint against Lam

Thursday 7th of September 2017

Former Bureau of Immigration (BI) commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles have withdrawn their criminal complaint filed against gaming tycoon Jack Lam, local media reports.

Last week, Lam's lawyer Raymond Fortun, forwarded the first page of Argosino and Robles' verified joint motion to withdraw their complaint, which had accused Lam of corruption of public officers and violation of the anti-wiretapping law.

Last year, Argosino and Robles were accused of extorting P50 million from Lam in exchange for the release of more than 1,000 illegal Chinese workers working at Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Pampanga.

The two alleged that Lam had bribed them at the time, and had taken the money as evidence. The two however, were dismissed over the scandal.

In the latest letter to Lam’s lawyer, Argosino and Robles said they would withdraw the complaint as the “parties to the instant complaint executed affidavits of recantation and clarification which materially affect the instance case."

"Review of the affidavits would show that the instant complaint was likewise based on mistaken assumption or interpretation of facts and circumstances," they said.

Argosino and Robles added that they have "decided to refrain from pursuing the instant case, now and in the future."

While Lam is now off the hook for this particular matter, he still faces a pending complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in January.

The complaint is for direct bribery, graft, and violation of Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits public officials from receiving gifts and also prohibits private persons from giving them.

Movers & Shakers Investigation Charges Complaint