MANILA, Philippines — Immigration personnel and officials who allegedly pocketed “pastillas” pay-offs through a scheme that allows Chinese nationals a smooth entry into the country in exchange of a P10,000-service fee should undergo a lifestyle check, Senator Risa Hontiveros said.
“That would be great if the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) would conduct that or conduct that in partnership for example with the Office of the Ombudsman or another executive or constitutional body…it (NBI) may ask for assistance to do that,” Hontiveros said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel on Tuesday.
“To examine yung lifestyle nga ba nung ating mga (personnel ng) BI (Bureau of Immigration) o ibang opisyal ay pareho pa rin sa dati bago nagsimulang itong ‘pastillas’ operation or grabeng nagbago because then we could link the causes and effects if itong corruption nung ating sariling Bureau of Immigration—supposed to be our border guards—has been underway the past few years,” she added.
On Monday, Hontiveros led an inquiry into crimes connected to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), such as prostitution and human trafficking.
Hontiveros heads the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.
During the said hearing, the senator cited an unnamed informant who claimed that Chinese nationals, most of whom work as Pogo employees, pay a P10,000-service fee on top of the regular tourist visa fee in exchange of a seamless entry into the country.
“Rolling out the red carpet and giving them VIP treatment, no questions asked because they (Chinese nationals) appear on a pre-sent list of entering Chinese tourists with the flight numbers, sometimes with photographs,” Hontiveros explained.