Tulfo links Aguirre to 'pastillas scheme' in BI

Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II was allegedly a protector of the syndicate linked to the pastillas scheme at the Bureau of Immigration, according to media practitioner Ramon Tulfo Jr. on Monday.

"Base po sa sinabi sa 'kin ni Mr. Chiong, siya po 'yung protector ng sindikato, si former Secretary Aguirre," Tulfo, a resource person at the Senate hearing, said, referring to whistleblower Allison Chiong.

He added that it was Aguirre who placed the father and son tandem of Maynardo and Red Mariñas to oversee the visa upon arrival system in the country.

"Mag-ama po sila. Ewan ko kung balik wala 'yung protektor nila si dating Justice secretary Aguirre. 'Yun po ang sinabi sa akin ni Mr. Chiong," he added.

Red Mariñas was a former chief of the Ports Operation Division while his father Maynardo led the Special Operations Communications Unit, according to Senator Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.

The senator said  Aguirre issued Department Circular 041 S. 2017 which assigned the two units to handle the review, assessment, and operation of visa upon arrival in the Philippines.

Asked if Aguirre is still believed to be involved with the modus up to now, Hontiveros said: "It would seem on the surface that it's not continuing anymore under the current Secretary of Justice who has given all cooperation dito sa Senate hearing kasama na 'yung pagpapalagay sa Witness Protection Program."

"Pero 'yung mga tao ng dating secretary of Justice ay mayroong mga nasa loob pa ng bureau at ayon sa ulat ay maimpluwensiya pa rin," she added in an interview after the hearing.

Reached for his comments, Aguirre denied Tulfo's allegation and vowed to sue the latter.

"The charges of Ramon Tulfo are absolute lies and a complete fabrications of Tulfo. I was told that he was the only one saying that in the Senate. That even his so-called whistleblower did not say what he was accusing me of," Aguirre said in a statement.

The former Justice chief said he had filed "numerous" libel and cyber libel cases against Tulfo over these same allegations that are now pending before courts in Manila.

"I will again file new cases against Tulfo. Kahit saan, I could face anybody for I am completely innocent of his charges," Aguirre said, adding that he wants to be invited, along with Tulfo, in the next hearing.

Hontiveros said Aguirre will be summoned to appear at the next Senate hearing regarding the matter.

During Monday's hearing, Mariñas denied his involvement in the 'pastillas scheme.'

The BI earlier relieved 19 of its personnel allegedly linked in the scheme.

Chopper to Quezon

According to Tulfo, a chopper regularly delivers kickback money from the pastillas scheme to Mulanay, Quezon--the hometown of Aguirre.

"'Yung helicopter na 'yan nag-check po ako sa Mulanay palagi pong nakikita yan every month, naglalanding... which jives with the statement of Mr. Chiong na doon naglalagay ng pera," he said.

The younger Mariñas confirmed that he indeed rode that chopper once but pointed out that it was a commercial helicopter and anyone can use it. He added that his destination during that time was San Narciso, Quezon and not the town of Mulanay.

High-rollers

Chiong, an Immigration Officer 1, earlier identified the officials whom he said were part of the scheme, which allegedly allows Chinese casino high-rollers and offshore gaming workers to enter the Philippines without going through the usual immigration process.

He claimed that immigration officers received through Viber, a messaging app, a list of names of Chinese nationals who were to be allowed entry "without question or investigation."

He said the Viber group was deleted when the National Bureau of Investigation probed the BI's airport operations. In its place, "immigration officers at the counter were asked to bring each Chinese national to the holding area of TCEU and a member of the TCEU would then check the name with the master list,” he said.

If the name is on the list, the Chinese national would be allowed entry without further screening or profiling, he said. — AOL/RSJ, GMA News