The Philippines’ anti-graft court has denied a motion by Macau-linked gambling investor Jack Lam to dismiss criminal charges tied to an alleged PHP50 million ($900,000) bribery scheme involving immigration officials, allowing the case to proceed.
According to local media reports citing a resolution issued by the court’s Sixth Division, judges ruled that the charges filed against Lam for violation of Presidential Decree No.46 remain valid, rejecting his argument that the case lacked sufficient factual basis. The court also upheld a hold-departure order against Lam, preventing him from leaving the Philippines.
The case stems from allegations that Lam, through intermediary Wenceslao Sombero Jr., paid PHP50 million ($828K) to former Bureau of Immigration deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles in November 2016. The payment was reportedly made in exchange for the release of more than 1,300 Chinese nationals detained for illegal employment at the Fontana Leisure Park and Casino in Pampanga.
Argosino and Robles were previously convicted of plunder and graft and sentenced to lengthy prison terms, with at least PHP30 million ($540,000) returned to the Department of Justice. Lam sought dismissal of his case partly on the grounds that charges against the officials for the same offense had been dropped in 2021 due to double jeopardy concerns. However, the court ruled that this protection does not apply to Lam, as he is not simultaneously charged with or convicted of plunder.
The court further noted that, at this stage, prosecutors are only required to allege the acts constituting the offense, not prove them. It also declined to classify Lam as a fugitive, citing insufficient evidence regarding the timing and circumstances of his departure from the Philippines.
Lam, a veteran investor in Macau’s junket sector, is associated with Hong Kong-listed Jimei International Entertainment Group Ltd., which has operated casino and resort assets, including Fontana. Notably, operations at the Fontana Resort and Country Club were indefinitely suspended by Clark authorities in early 2025, underscoring ongoing regulatory scrutiny surrounding the property.
