'PASTILLAS' PROBE

BI security guard is P14-M man on P10k-a-month, says NBI

An Immigration security guard supposedly involved in the controversial pastillas scheme was found to have total assets amounting to P14 million despite only having a monthly salary of P10,000.

According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras,” the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Special Action unit found that the guard declared that his total assets reached P14,120,000 in his statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth in 2018.

He also declared that he bought a house worth P4.5 million and that he possesesed jewelries, and two cars, including an SUV.  The guard also traveled abroad eight times per year to countries such as Japan, United States, and Europe.

“Ang security guard, salary grade 4 or 5 lang ‘yan… So more or less kung sume-suweldo ‘yan, P8,000 ang maximum. P8,000 to P10,000 ‘yan a month,” Jun Donggalio, NBI Special Action unit chief, said.

“Pag sobrang laki naman ng dineklera mo na hindi mo na maju-justify… it is safe to say na puwedeng may kinalaman ka talaga diyan sa pastillas, ano?” he added.

Meanwhile, an Immigration officer declared P277,000 networth in 2015.

His networth jumped to P1.4 million in 2016 until it climbed to more than P5 million in 2018, during the peak of the pastillas scheme.

“Halos P1.2 million ang nadagdag. So sa isang taon makikita niyo po na medyo may discrepancy talaga, considering na ang suweldo niya mga nasa ano lang ‘yan P20,000 plus a month,”  Dongallio said.

“Itong SALN, ‘yung declaration nila diyan, magiging part ng ebidensya natin ‘yan sa imbestigasyon natin sa pastillas case,” he added.

Twenty high-ranking officials of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) who are among those who will be charged due to the pastillas scheme have also undergone the lifestyle check

The networth of one of the officials reached P27 million despite having only a monthly salary of P33,000 as an official of the BI. His assets were also filled with assets such as condos, expensive cars, as well as house and lots.

“’Yung supposed to be na natirang 20 from the first batch na hindi pa nakakasuhan, na sabi nga nila ‘yung mga boss, ang akin pong palagay, eh, baka madagdagan pa po. Pipilitin po natin na madagdagan dahil nga sa pag lutang o pag surface ng bago nating whistle blower,” Donggalio said.

The NBI is looking to file cases gainst the new batch of BI officials on the last week of October or the first week of November. -NB, GMA News