Aguirre denies links to pastillas scheme; says Tulfo's allegation makes BI, DOJ chiefs appear 'lameducks'

Former Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday denied being a protector of the syndicate behind the "pastillas" scheme in the Bureau of Immigration.

During the continuation of the Senate probe, Aguirre said media practitioner Ramon Tulfo Jr.'s allegation was fueled by "personal vendetta and dirty politics" and actually made incumbent authorities in the Department of Justice and Bureau of Immigration look weak.

"It has been two years since I resigned as Secretary of Justice. As such, I am bereft of any power or authority to control, much less head, a syndicate operating in the Bureau of Immigration," Aguirre said.

"Tulfo's accusation serves not only to defame me but constitutes an affront to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente and the current Secretary of Justice Menardo Guevarra's authority. He made them appear as lameducks for allegedly allowing me to wield such power over the said government agency despite being already out of office," he added.

In March, Tulfo accused Aguirre of being a protector of the syndicate linked to the pastillas scheme at the Bureau of Immigration.

According to Tulfo, 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 and that a chopper regularly delivers kickback money from the pastillas scheme to Mulanay, Quezon—the hometown of the former justice secretary.

In response to this, Aguirre said he would not have used a chopper if the allegation was true that he was receiving kickbacks.

"Assuming for the sake of argument that I was receiving part of said 'payola,' why would I let my share be flown from Manila to Mulanay, Quezon, by a chopper. This manner would not only attract attention from people of said small and remote town but also would alarm my political enemies... I would certainly opt for a more discreet way of receiving my share of the purported loot, if indeed true," he said.

Further, the former DOJ chief said the visa upon arrival program was a good project and it was allegedly Tulfo's, sister former Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, who kept following up for its implementation.

"The program had not been the subject of any controversy or scandal since its implementation on 15 August 2017 up to the time I resigned on 5 April 2018," Aguirre said.

Tulfo said his sister did not gain anything from the visa upon arrival program.

Aguirre stood firm that Tulfo was attacking him because of their friendship that went sour after he did not grant the latter's request for consolidation of more than 90 cases filed by Iglesia ni Cristo.

"Tulfo called and texted me to remind me of such request. According to him, because of the numerous libel cases pending in different places of the country, he incurred big expenses and suffered inconveniences in travelling to defend himself," he said.

"May refusal to disregard the procedure involving his motion for consolidation of cases got me the ire of Mr. Tulfo," he added.

Tulfo admitted having hard feelings towards Aguirre but maintained that the exposés he made about the pastillas scheme was without malice.

In February, the BI relieved 19 of its personnel who were allegedly linked to the pastillas scheme where Chinese casino high-rollers and offshore gaming workers were escorted to skirt the immigration process in exchange for a fee.

The modus' name was derived from the Filipino dessert "pastillas" (rolled-up sweet, sticky mass) because the bribe money that some BI personnel allegedly received were delivered rolled up inside bond papers.

Whistleblower Allison Chiong, Immigration Officer 1, bared in his previous Senate testimony that these VIP services offered by immigration officers started when the Department of Justice removed their overtime pay in 2012.

Aguirre, a law school classmate and fraternity brother of President Rodrigo Duterte, served as DOJ chief from 2016 to 2018.— AOL/RSJ, GMA News