NBI official nabbed for allegedly accepting bribes from BI 'pastillas gang'

An official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was arrested Monday night in an entrapment operation for allegedly accepting bribes from Bureau of Immigration personnel involved in the "pastillas scheme."

During the continuation of the Senate investigation into the modus, Senator Risa Hontiveros tried to confirm the information that the NBI legal assistance bureau chief was nabbed for such offense.

"Mako-confirm ninyo po ba ang media reports na ang pinuno ng NBI legal assistance bureau, si Joshua Paul Capiral, ay inaresto kagabi dahil sa pagtanggap ng bribes mula sa grupo ng pastillas gang kapalit sa hindi pagsali sa kanila sa charges?" Hontiveros asked.

NBI Anti-Human Trafficking Division chief Atty. Janet Francisco answered in the affirmative.

"Vinerify ko po ang information na 'yan sa isang opisyal ng legal service namin at kinonfirm pong na-entrap nga po si Atty. Capiral at ngayong araw pong ito ay magpa-file ng demanda sa Department of Justice po," Francisco said.

She added that there is initial information that Capiral has a sibling in the BI.

Francisco was not able to give a list of "pastillas gang" members who allegedly paid the arrested NBI executive but committed to relay the request to the Special Action Division of the NBI.

She said the NBI is already preparing the inquest proceedings for Capiral.

The NBI has filed a complaint against 19 immigration personnel who were allegedly involved in the pastillas bribery scheme which allows Chinese high-rollers and offshore gaming workers to enter the country sans proper immigration process.

NBI Director Eric Distor previously said the complaint covers only the first batch of respondents. "First batch pa lang ito. May mga kasunod pa. Hahabulin natin sila," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon lauded the NBI's "bold" entrapment of its own personnel and pressed for the top to bottom reorganization of the BI.

The BI also welcomed the arrest, saying that this was a result of its previous request for NBI assistance in investigating alleged corruption in its ranks. 

Immigration chief Jaime Morente said the agency will pursue its campaign against corrupt personnel. 

“Rogue employees that are involved in corruption only smear the name of the Bureau, and should face harsh penalties,” Morente said in a statement. 

He said the BI is cooperating with the Senate in its investigation into the pastillas scheme, sharing that it has relieved the personnel whose names were mentioned in the hearing and implemented a system-wide reorganization.

Morente ordered a "total revamp" of immigration personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last February. —with a report from Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/AOL/KG, GMA News