NBI help sought to unmask ‘pastillas’ group

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration has sought the help of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to identify and run after members of a group reportedly bribing BI personnel to smuggle Chinese nationals into the country.

Instead of just focusing on BI personnel allegedly involved in the escort service, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente wanted to uncover the organizations and individuals who have been offering bribe money to bureau officers, according to BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval.

Morente himself is “not yet off the hook” on the scandal, Malacañang has said, even after President Duterte has said he “loves” the BI chief who was previously assigned in Davao.

These immigration officials assist in the illegal entry of Chinese nationals, purportedly to work for Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), into the country.

“The commissioner has requested the assistance of the DOJ and NBI in looking at the bigger picture – in capturing and filing cases against syndicate members outside the bureau, which we see as the root of all this,” Sandoval said.

“If we just keep on removing personnel from inside (the bureau), but not going after the agencies that recruit aliens illegally and offer temptations to government employees, then the cycle could just go on and on,” she added.

Morente had earlier ordered a full-blown investigation into the escort modus at the airports and to file administrative and criminal cases against immigration officials and personnel who would be proven involved in the illegal activity.

On Feb. 17, he directed the creation of a fact-finding committee, led by BI Deputy Commissioner J. Tobias Javier, to conduct an investigation and submit a report to his office within 15 days.

The BI has so far placed on floating status 19 of its airport personnel, but Sandoval said “there’s always a possibility” that more employees would be relieved from their posts in connection with the ongoing investigation into this irregularity.

The 19 BI personnel have been reassigned to their administration division “for strict monitoring and attendance.”

It was during the Senate’s committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality when some BI personnel were tagged in the “pastillas scheme.”

Committee chairperson Sen. Risa Hontiveros said each arriving Chinese national pays an additional P10,000 service fee, of which the P2,000 is divided among officials from the BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit, duty immigration supervisor and terminal heads.

The remaining P8,000 is given to tour operators and “syndicates” who transport the Chinese nationals from the airport to POGO sites.