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19 immigration personnel relieved of duty over ‘pastillas’ scheme
Nineteen immigration personnel have been relieved from duty amid an investigation into an alleged "pastillas" racket, a scheme involving the escorting of Chinese nationals through immigration processes for a fee.
The relief of the 19 personnel, including Immigration Officer 1 Allison Chiong, was ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.
This order follows revelations during a Senate hearing where Immigration Officer Alex Chiong exposed the modus operandi.
According to BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval, the majority of immigration officers are allegedly involved in the scheme.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente had previously relieved NAIA terminal heads and the chief of the travel control and enforcement unit as the investigation began.
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President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the relief of 18 Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials and employees implicated in the "pastillas" bribery scheme.
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An Immigration officer identified officials involved in the "pastillas" bribery scheme that facilitated the entry of Chinese high-rollers and POGO workers into the country.
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Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente has ordered an investigation into an alleged bribery scheme where Chinese nationals pay P10,000 each for seamless entry into the Philippines, a scheme dubbed "pastillas."
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Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed that immigration officer Allison Chiong, a whistleblower in the "pastillas" scheme, is now under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) due to security concerns, following a request from Senators Risa Hontiveros and Vicente Sotto III.
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The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has relieved its officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and its Travel Control and Enforcement Unit pending investigation into the alleged 'pastillas' scheme.
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