Palace: Sacking of 45 ‘pastillas’ Immigration officials shows there are no sacred cows

The Palace on Monday said the Office of the Ombudsman's decision dismissing at least 41 Immigration officials in connection with the "pastillas scam" or the scheme allowing the illegal entry of foreigners in exchange for money proves no one is above the law under the Duterte administration.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar was referring to the 45 Immigration personnel fired from their posts for being "administratively liable for grave misconduct prejudicial to the best interest of the services."

"The recent decision of the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing Immigration employees in connection with the 'pastillas scam' underscores that there are no sacred cows in the Duterte Administration," Andanar said.

"We welcome this decision as it shows the current government's zero-tolerance policy against corruption in the bureaucracy," Andanar added.

Andanar, however, conceded that such dismissals were not a panacea to corruption in government.

"Fighting corruption remains a challenge. We are, therefore, pushing for automation of government systems to avoid face-to-face contact, while at the same time eliminating redundant processes for effective and efficient delivery of government services," he added.

Before the dismissal, Ombudsman Samuel Martires also ordered the filing of graft charges against 42 Immigration officials and personnel and one private citizen over the pastillas scam.

According to the Ombudsman's findings, then-Deputy Commissioner Marc Mariñas of the Port Operations Division alleged;y conspired with other immigration personnel, as well as with Liya Wu of Empire International Travel and Tours, to "willfully, unlawfully and give unwarranted benefits, preference or advantage to foreign passengers, particularly Chinese nationals." — DVM, GMA News