Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 21) — The immigration officer who turned against his workmates allegedly involved in the so-called “pastillas” bribery scheme has been placed under the custody of the Witness Protection Program.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday said Senate President Tito Sotto and Senator Risa Hontiveros made the request to include Immigration Officer Allison “Alex” Chiong, who received death threats after he exposed that Chinese nationals are allegedly paying immigration officers to have a smooth entry in the Philippines.
“He (Chiong) will be evaluated thoroughly by the WPP before he could be considered for full coverage,” Guevarra said in a text message.
Chiong on Thursday said that when Hontiveros cited an unnamed “informant” during the previous hearing, he already started receiving threatening messages. He added he hasn’t been able to go back to work since then because they’re “mad” at him for exposing the scheme that has been in place since July 2019.
But he said he took a stand to put an end to the illegal scheme at the bureau.
“Sukdulan na po, gusto kong i-expose talaga itong nangyayari sa Immigration… May karapatan po ang bawat Pilipino na malaman ito since borders natin na kailangan bantayan ang apektado dito,” he said during the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality hearing.
[Translation: It’s too much. I want to expose what is happening inside the Immigration. Filipinos need to know because the country’s borders are at risk.]
He attested to the illegal scheme that involves at least 90 percent of immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The whistleblower confirmed Chinese nationals pay ₱10,000 as a “service fee” or grease money for a special entry treatment from the BI. The amount goes up to P50,000 to even millions of pesos for blacklisted Chinese fugitives who want to get in and out of the Philippines.
Chiong revealed to be the leaders of syndicates within the bureau who are conniving with foreign travel groups for a percentage of the fee. He named former Bureau of Immigration Deputy Commissioner Marc Red Mariñas, Den Binsol, Glenn Comia and Bien Guevarra as people behind the ‘pastillas scheme.’
He also validated that BI officers have a Viber group chat where they send the names of Chinese nationals whose travel documents won’t have to be checked so they’re assured of a smooth entry into the country.
The operation is called “pastillas” because money would be hidden in rolled bond paper like the wrapping for the milk candy. But Hontiveros said this has been upgraded to pay envelopes for the release of kickbacks.
