BI-NAIA terminal heads relieved of duty amid investigation on ‘pastillas’ scheme

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has relieved from their posts the terminal heads of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) while it investigates an alleged scheme in which Chinese nationals are escorted through the immigration process in exchange for a fee. 

The NAIA terminal heads and the chief of the travel control and enforcement unit were relieved of duty upon orders of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente "pending the results of the investigation," BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said Tuesday.

The officials, who were not named, were relieved from their posts due to command responsibility, Sandoval said in a message to reporters.

"But the investigation does not revolve entirely around them. We're looking at the bigger picture, all that might be connected to this alleged scheme, whether internal or external," she said.

Morente has ordered an investigation into an alleged scheme in which Chinese nationals could seamlessly enter the country by paying P10,000 -- a modus called "pastillas," after the Philippine dessert, because the money used to be rolled up in bond paper.

While NAIA is the focus of the investigation, the bureau's fact-finding shows other airports in the country may be running a similar scheme, Sandoval said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Asked if the relief would hamper operations, she admitted the bureau is already short-staffed, "but this is a sacrifice we have to do to ensure the smoothness of the investigation."

The Immigration spokesperson said similar airport schemes have been uncovered in the past and that immigration personnel have been charged and dismissed from their posts in mid-2018 over escorting schemes.

Interviewed on GMA News TV's Balitanghali, Sandoval said around 70 personnel have already been dismissed and suspended under the Duterte administration for their involvement in corrupt practices.

"The office is not taking this lightly… Kung mapatunayan na talagang may ganitong schemes at kung sino ‘yung mga involved dito, definitely hindi po natin ito palalampasin," she said.

Nonetheless, Sandoval said the "pastillas" modus may be an "upgrade" of its older counterparts.

The investigation will have results in 15 days, she said.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra last month ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the alleged involvement of immigration personnel in human trafficking and escorting activities. — with Julia Mari Ornedo/RSJ, GMA News