Duterte gives BI chief another chance amid corruption issues

President Duterte has decided to give Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente another chance to address alleged corruption within the agency.

This decision came after Morente presented his reform plans, including an executive order to combat irregularities and enhance transparency in immigration processes, during a recent Cabinet meeting.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo stated that the President's decision implies Morente is not directly involved in the alleged corrupt practices.

Morente's proposed transparency measures aim to eliminate secrecy in interactions between immigration personnel and passengers.

The call for reforms follows the recent exposé of the 'pastillas' bribery scam, where Chinese workers allegedly paid bribes for easier entry into the Philippines.

Panelo emphasized that while the President previously vouched for Morente's integrity, no one is exempt from investigation if corruption allegations arise.