The NBI Special Action Unit (NBI – SAU) filed on Thursday the second batch of graft complaints involving 86 personnel of the Bureau of Immigration allegedly involved in the so-called pastillas scheme.
In their 27-page complaint filed before the Ombudsman, the NBI SAU named 8 high-ranking officials of Immigration as part of the pastillas group’s core. They also tagged Former Division Chief of Port Operations Division Marc Red Mariñas, Immigration Officer 2, as the multi-billion-peso scam’s mastermind.
The agency also tagged all Terminal Control and Enforcement Unit terminal heads in NAIA 1, 2, and 3 and the over-all head of BI Border Control and Intelligence Unit in the pastillas scheme.
The complaint said that aside from bribe money, some members of the pastillas scheme also received gifts and other benefits, including sexual favors from trafficked foreign women.
According to NBI SAU chief Atty. Jun Donggallo Jr., the criminal case against the 86 personalities, is air-tight, supported by revelations made and evidence provided by NBI’s second whistle-blower, Immigration Officer Dale Ignacio.
Donggallo noted that Ignacio was an “insider,” part of the pastillas syndicate’s exclusive Viber group. He also played a crucial role as keeper of lists of Chinese nationals favored by the syndicate.
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NBI files raps vs. 86 Immigration personnel over ‘pastillas’ scheme
Donggallo added that Ignacio also confirmed earlier claims of Immigration Officer Allison Chiong, the first whistle-blower.
The NBI asked the Ombudsman to exempt Ignacio from the list of those who will be criminally charged and instead be used as a state witness.
Of the 86 accused BI personnel, 67 are new personalities who now join the 19 Immigration officials in the first batch charged by NBI SAU over the pastillas scheme.
Commissioner Jaime Morente announced that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) would implement a one-strike policy against erring employees as part of its intensified drive against corruption.
As per BI’s records from 2016, 131 personnel have been suspended, dismissed, and dropped from the rolls for different offenses.
Under the one-strike policy, erring personnel subject of complaints and investigations will be relieved from their posts immediately.