DOJ deactivates BI division involved in 'pastillas' scam

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has already deactivated a Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) division which was previously involved in a bribery scheme called “pastillas” scam.

This was disclosed by Senator Sonny Angara during the Senate plenary deliberations on the DOJ’s P35.455 proposed budget for 2024 after Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III asked for updates on the reforms that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla promised to introduce to the Bureau of Corrections, Land Registration Authority, and the BI.

“If you remember the pastillas scam, they deactivated that division (which) was responsible for this--this Port Operations Division,” Angara, who sponsored the budget of the DOJ, said.

According to Angara, Remulla is “looking to cut down the avenues for possible graft and corruption and promote greater efficiency in the performance of the bureau.”

In February, the DOJ chief announced that he will sign an order deactivating BI’s Port Operations Division amid controversies that the bureau had faced about the immigration process in the country. 

The “pastillas” scam being referred to by Angara is a bribery scheme in the BI which was divulged by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros in 2020.

Under the said scheme, Chinese nationals could seamlessly enter the country by paying P10,000. The modus "pastillas" was named after the Philippine dessert, because the bribe money was rolled up in bond papers.

Meanwhile, Angara said that the Justice secretary is prioritizing BuCor’s decongestion in various jail facilities and they are releasing prisoners every month.

“Yung naririnig natin dati na nagkakakuntyabahan ang ibang (The reported connivance of) crime lords within the penal institutions, that will be minimized or eviscerated or eliminated, your honor,” Angara said.

Meanwhile, the senator said the DOJ is prioritizing the computerization and digitization in LRA to facilitate ease of doing business with the public.—AOL, GMA Integrated News