Philippines Intelligence Chief fired

Philippines Justice Secretary, Vitaliano Aguirre, has announced the dismissal of Charles Calima, head of the Bureau of Immigration intelligence department, over bribery allegations related to online gaming mogul Jack Lam, according to local media reports from Manila.

Our readers will recall that Calima was embroiled in allegations of bribery against two BI assistant commissioners who allegedly released almost half the 1,316 illegal Chinese workers arrested at Lam’s Clark Freeport premises recently (see previous reports).

Assistant Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles are currently on leave of absence whilst National Investigation Bureau enquiries continue, and have claimed that Calima took a P18 million cut of the P50 million they were offered in bribes.

Aguirre said Wednesday he will also recommend the dismissal from the service of Argosino and Robles for accepting the pay-off from Lam in the first place.

The money surrendered by Argosino and Robles is now with the DOJ for safekeeping, he added.