Former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II dared media man Ramon Tulfo to file a case against him to prove his alleged involvement in the “pastillas” scheme.
“Mr. Tulfo, because I know that you have nothing against me, handa kitang samahan kahit kaninong pulis tayo pumunta para mag-file ka ng case against me. I’m challenging you to do this, sasamahan pa kita,” Aguirre said during the continuation of the Senate hearing on the pastillas scheme on Tuesday.
Under the said scheme, Chinese nationals allegedly were able to evade the Philippines’ immigration procedure in exchange for cash.
“I’m sure na itong police agencies natin ay walang gagawin diyan sa complaint mo kundi ilalagay lang sa basurahan,” he added.
Aguirre then said Ramon Tulfo did not physically attend the hearing because he was “fugitive,” avoiding the arrest warrants issued by a court against him.
“Alam ninyo kung bakit wala dito si Tulfo na sa kabila ng his penchant for publicity ay hindi umattend ngayon personally before this committee? Kasi po natatakot ‘yan because he has standing warrants of arrest issued by regional trial court of Manila, Branch 24,” he said.
Aguirre dares Ramon Tulfo to sue him over ‘pastillas’ scheme
Ramon Tulfor previously accused Aguirre of protecting the pastillas syndicate within the Bureau of Immigration. He said the former justice secretary intentionally assigned father and son tandem of Maynardo and Red Mariñas to oversee the visa upon arrival system.
BI Deputy Commissioner Tobias Javier, however, said it was Commissioner Jaime Morente, who appointed the senior Mariñas to the Special Operations Communications Unit.
Aguirre admitted he appointed the younger Mariñas, Marc Red, as chief of the BI Ports Operation Division during his term as a justice secretary.
“It’s very clear that I appointed Marc Red as POD. It is very clear also from the declaration of the deputy commissioner that it was the Bureau of Immigration commissioner who appointed the father Maynard Marinas. This belies the declaration of Tulfo,” he said.
Tulfo responded and claimed that Aguirre released a circular, which supposedly prevented the BI Commissioner from appointing and reappointing personnel.
“Siya po ang nag-aassign ng mga personnel ng immigration sa airport. Ibig sabihn niyan, hindi puwedeng sila-sila lamang ang immigration officers sa airport na walang kinikilingan. Kailangan po may puno iyan, may grandfather. Ang grandfather po niyan ay si Mr. Aguirre,” Ramon Tulfo said.