Argosino admits suspension from law practice

Former Immigration associate commissioner Al Argosino on Thursday admitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that he has been suspended from the practice of law. (Photo: PTV/Facebook)

MANILA—Former Immigration associate commissioner Al Argosino on Thursday admitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that he has been suspended from the practice of law.

During a hearing into the alleged PHP50 million bribery scandal involving Immigration officials, Sen. Richard Gordon, who chaired the committee, asked Argosino if the report of his suspension was true.

Argosino replied by saying that he has already “filed a motion for reconsideration.”

Gordon scolded him for not directly answering the question.

“You don’t think that the government has the right to know that you have been suspended? That once upon a time that you were a frat man convicted of hazing?” Gordon asked Argosino.

The ex-Immigration official said that he indicated in his personal data sheet (PDS) that he has indeed been suspended from the practice of law for one year due to professional misconduct in a case involving company Avida Land Corporation last year.

Earlier reports also revealed that Argosino, who was a member of the Lex Talionis fraternity in San Beda law school, was involved in the death of a neophyte during fraternity initiation rites in September 1991.

Lex Talionis is the same fraternity where Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and Pres. Rodrigo Duterte were both members of.

He also said that he received a copy of the SC decision after he got appointed by Pres. Duterte and has since then been trying to “redeem” himself.