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Morente vents disappointment to BI officials, personnel linked in ‘pastillas’ scheme
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente expressed disappointment to his agency’s officials and personnel who were tagged in the controversial “pastillas” scheme where they allegedly accepted bribes from Chinese nationals in exchange for an easy entry into the country.
“As the Commissioner, I am very disappointed with the unauthorized activities of some personnel who continue to commit irregularities despite our determined efforts to get rid of the culture of corruption in the Bureau since 2016,” Morente said on Saturday, February 22.
The modus was revealed by Senator Risa Hontiveros in a Senate hearing on Monday, saying that the Chinese nationals pay P10,000 to some BI officers so they could get special treatment upon their arrival in the Philippines.
“We have placed all of the accused in the Administrative holding office and have cancelled all their privileges. We shall observe due process as we bring the accused to the court of justice,” the commissioner said, adding that this should serve as a reminder for their other officials and personnel to not engage in such unlawful practices.
Following the disclosure of the scheme, Morente said the BI took additional steps to “deter and expose any more illegal activities” within the bureau by having new protocols in the conduct of secondary inspection in open areas and putting up more CCTV cameras in all areas of the primary inspectors.
He also said they will cooperate with “any impartial probe and lifestyle check to be conducted by authorities” on the BI officials and personnel.
“The Bureau and its personnel have been tested by various issues in the last few years, and despite these trials, we have remained steadfast, strong in our adherence to the values of patriotism, integrity, and professionalism,” the commissioner stressed.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier relieved BI officials and employees allegedly involved into the “pastillas” scheme. But despite this pay-off modus that happened under Morente’s leadership, the Chief Executive stood by the latter.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, however, told the ANC on Friday even though the BI chief got Duterte’s support, he could still be fired if proven that he did “something illegal” or “something incompetent.”
