RETIRED police official Wenceslao “Wally” Sombero, who is facing plunder charges along with gaming tycoon Jack Lam in relation to the Bureau of Immigration bribery controversy, surrendered Wednesday morning, April 11, to incoming Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde.
Sombero was turned over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), where he underwent booking procedures.
From Camp Crame, he was brought to the Sandiganbayan which issued his arrest warrant on Tuesday.
Albayalde said two retired police officials approached him on Tuesday and told him about Sombero’s intention to surrender.
“The reason why our client surrendered here is because he is a former police officer and according to him, there is nothing more than natural than just to come home to Camp Crame,” Jessie Lanete, Sombero’s legal counsel, said.
Sombero said he also feels safer with Albayalde and CIDG director Roel Obusan.
Obusan said they were awaiting court orders as to where Sombero would be detained.
Asked where he preferred to be detained, Sombero said: “I prefer to be detained in my house but I will leave it up to the justices.”
Sombero is facing plunder charges for allegedly facilitating Lam's bribe to immigration officials in exxhange for the release of over 1,300 undocumented Chinese nationals who were arrested during a raid in an online gambling operation on November 16, 2017 in a resort owned by Lam in Clark, Pampanga.
Along with Sombero, former deputy immigration commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles, who allegedly accepted the P50-million bribe money, were also charged with plunder.
Argosino and Robles are detained at the Camp Bagong Diwa jail. (SunStar Philippines)