Palace says Morente not yet off the hook on ‘pastillas’ bribery scheme despite Duterte’s support

On Thursday, the President vouched for the BI chief’s integrity despite controversies hounding the bureau, saying that he ‘loves’ Morente whom, he said, is ‘kind’ and that cannot do such unlawful act. (File photo: Philippine Information Agency/website)

No one from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is spared from the inquiry on the so-called “pastillas” bribery scheme, including its chief who has got the support of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo told this to ANC on Friday, February 21, saying that Morente’s way of running the agency will still be discussed in the next Cabinet meeting, after it was reported that some immigration personnel were receiving a 10 thousand peso worth of “service fee” from Chinese nationals to get special treatment from the officials as they enter the Philippines.

“Anybody is not safe. Everybody is at the pleasure of the President. If you do something illegal, if you do something incompetent, then the President [will] fire you,” Panelo said.

On Thursday, the President vouched for the BI chief’s integrity despite controversies hounding the bureau, saying that he ‘loves’ Morente whom, he said, is ‘kind’ and that cannot do such unlawful act.

The spokesman, however, shrugged off Duterte’s statement, emphasizing that the latter has fired some members of his Cabinet who are his friends and allies.

“‘Wala ngang koneksyon ‘yung pagkakaibigan natin at pagmamahal ko sa’yong personal doon sa trabaho mo. Iba ‘yung trabaho.’ ‘Yan ang palaging sinasabi ni Presidente (‘Our friendship and my personal affection have no connection to your work. Work is different.’ That is what the President always says),” he said.

Asked if there are already recommendations to replace Morente, Panelo said he has no idea, “but sigurado si Presidente palaging naghahanap ‘yan (for sure the President is always looking for someone).”

“‘Di ba maraming bakante sa gobyerno kasi mahirap humanap ng honest person ngayon (There are a lot of vacant positions in the government because its hard to find an honest person nowadays),” The Palace official said.

Duterte earlier ordered the relief of the BI officials and employees involved in the alleged bribery scheme.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval, meanwhile, had ensured that the BI “will take every measure to destroy this system of corruption, and impose the harshest penalties [on] erring personnel.”