‘Pastillas Scheme’ is now up for resolution
The administrative case against Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials and personnel implicated in the massively-controversial ‘Pastillas Scheme’ is now up for resolution.
The administrative case against Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials and personnel implicated in the massively-controversial ‘Pastillas Scheme’ is now up for resolution.
Outgoing Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra revealed this on Tuesday following a resolution issued by the Office the Ombudsman indicting several BI executives and personnel over the scandalous scheme.
“The resolution of the separate administrative case is also forthcoming. But the list of respondents in the administrative complaint is not the same set of respondents in the criminal complaint, which was submitted by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) to the OMB (Ombudsman). It is the resolution of the administrative case that will determine the disciplinary action that may be taken against the respondents therein, ” Guevarra said in a message.
Under the Pastillas Scheme, Chinese visitors can seamlessly enter the country in exchange for bribes.
A Chinese citizen pays a P10,000 “service fee” – P2,000 of which will allegedly be shared among officials of the BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU), duty Immigration supervisor, and terminal heads.
The remaining P8,000 will then be given to tour operators and syndicates who will transport the Chinese from the airport to Pogo facilities.
It was also disclosed during Senate hearings that blacklisted Chinese fugitives would pay as much as P200,000 to “freely” enter the country.
On Tuesday, June 7, graft probers has filed graft charges against dozens of BI officials and staff over the “Pastillas” bribery scheme before the Sandiganbayan.
Among those who will be charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act are Marc Red Mariñas — a deputy commissioner and head of the Port Operations Division — and senior immigration officers Grifton Medina, Erwin Ortañez and Glenn Ford Comia.
Bail for the immigration officials and staff indicted has been recommended at P90,000 each.
Terminal/immigration services telegram:@shawhill