Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12) — Immigration personnel extort around ₱150,000 from blacklisted people in exchange for letting them enter and leave the country, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday.
“May info kami na sa blacklisted persons na nakaka-travel in or out, ₱150,000 na ang presyo ng escort,” he said in a press briefing.
[Translation: We have information that for blacklisted persons who want to travel in or out, the escort price is ₱150,000.]
Remulla said he met with a Bureau of Immigration (BI) official to discuss the “resurgence” of a scheme he likened to the “pastillas scam.”
The scheme was uncovered in 2020. It involved BI officials who allowed Chinese nationals to enter the country without background checks in exchange for grease money wrapped like a pastillas – a local milk-based confection rolled in a wrapping paper.
“We’re trying to uncover kasi nagkakabuhay na naman dyan ang mga sindikato na parang may pastillas na naman,” the justice chief said.
[Translation: We’re trying to uncover because the syndicates are returning, it’s similar to the pastillas scheme.]
Remulla said he has directed the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the syndicate.
