MANILA, Philippines (Updated 6:10 p.m.) — President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the relief of all Immigration officials and employees allegedly involved in the money-making scheme to facilitate the entry of Chinese nationals into the Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the chief executive has found probable cause to order the relief of the bureau officials and personnel involved in the so-called “pastillas” bribery scheme.
“The president considers this anomaly a grave form of corruption which cannot and will never be countenanced by this government,” Panelo said Thursday.
He added: “Any official or employee who commits any wrongdoing, any transgression of the law in the performance of their respective duties will be meted with punishment that they deserve in accordance with our penal laws.”
It is yet unclear if the Immigration personnel who have been relieved will also be terminated from the service and charged in court.
The allegation of a new scheme involving payouts to Immigration officials and employees was bared during a Senate inquiry Monday. Sen. Risa Hontiveros said an Immigration informant told her about a modus at the bureau involving a “service fee” of P10,000 that Chinese nationals pay for “special treatment.”
Immigration officials present during the hearing denied knowledge of the “pastillas” scheme but Hontiveros said they are either “complacent or negligent.”
The president’s mouthpiece said the present situation in the bureau as well as how it is being run BI commissioner Jaime Morente will be discussed in the next Cabinet meeting.
The terminal heads and heads of the travel control and enforcement unit of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were relieved Tuesday “due to command responsibility.”
‘Corruption has no place in BI’
Hours after the Palace announcement, the bureau said it is immediately relieving the services of the 18 Immigration personnel mentioned during a Senate hearing Thursday.
“We are not taking this lightly. The expose by Immigration Officer Alex Chiong is deeply alarming and we will ensure that we will take every measure to destroy this system of corruption and impose the harshest penalties to erring personnel,” Dana Sandoval, BI spokesperson, said.
She added: “Corruption has no place in the bureau.”
Chiong, Hontiveros’ informant, said former Deputy Commissioner Marc Red Mariñas appointed the Travel Control and Enforcement Unit chiefs of Terminals 1 to 3 of NAIA who “took over” collecting fees from Chinese passengers for their “seamless” entry into the country.
Hontiveros said the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality will summon those who supposedly “profited millions” from the scheme.
— Gaea Katreena Cabico with report from The STAR