‘Impossible’ for ranking BI execs not to know ‘pastillas’ modus–Hontiveros
Sen. Risa Hontiveros. (Henzberg Austria / Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — It is impossible for high-ranking officials of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) not to know the “pastillas” modus considering that corrupt officials and employees profited an estimated P10 billion from it, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Saturday.
This comes after Immigration official Allison Chong, who blew the whistle on the bribery scheme, said during a Senate hearing that only 10 percent of BI officials were not involved in the modus.
Some of those involved are current and former officials of the BI, Chiong exposed.
“Ang matinding pakiramdam ko, impossible talagang paniwalaan na lahat sila ay walang-walang alam sa pastillas operation na ito, at mga katulad na operasyon, dahil paulit-ulit na natin naririnig itong mga ganitong ulat at reklamo, at malalaking pera ang pinag-uusapan,” Hontiveros, chair of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, said in an interview over DWIZ.
(What I feel about this, it’s impossible for them to believe that they are clueless in the pastillas operation, as well as other similar operations, because we have heard this several times which involves a huge amount of money.)
“Dito lang sa pastillas operation, tantyang P10 billion and counting,” Hontiveros added. “So paanong naka-eskapo that time sa atensyon nilang lahat?”
(In this operation, it’s an estimate of P10 billion and counting. So how did this escape their attention?)
Asked if the scheme was an indication of how BI Commissioner Jaime Morente was running the bureau, Hontiveros answered: “Nakakahiya nga yung position in which he was placed sa kasalukuyan. (It’s shameful to be in a position where he is placed now.)”
“Para gamutin yan, kaya binibigyang halaga ko rin yung pag-amyenda at pag-update sa 1940 Bureau of Immigration Law,” Hontiveros said, vouching to amend the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.
(To cure that, I’m giving emphasis on amending and updating the 1940 Bureau of Immigration Law.)
Morente previously said that he had limited powers under the law to remove corrupt officials in the BI, as he had no authority to suspend or sack permanent employees.
