Philippine News Agency
'Pastillas' whistleblower now under witness protection program
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.
Chiong will undergo thorough evaluation by the WPP before being considered for full coverage.
He stated that current and past Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials received between PHP8,000 to PHP20,000 from Chinese travelers, with some officials receiving as high as PHP200,000 for facilitating the entry of individuals with derogatory records.
The "pastillas" scheme involves Chinese nationals allegedly skipping immigration processes for a fee, with immigration officers reportedly receiving substantial weekly earnings for their participation.
Following the revelations, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) placed 19 personnel on floating status as directed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The BI is also investigating the scheme, and weeks prior, Guevarra had ordered the NBI to look into similar "escorting" activities involving immigration personnel.
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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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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.
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Malacañang, through Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, stated that Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente will not escape charges if investigations reveal he committed lapses in stopping the "pastillas" scheme.
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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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