Blacklisted Chinese fugitives pay as much as P200K to 'freely' enter PH - whistleblower | Inquirer News

Blacklisted Chinese fugitives pay as much as P200K to ‘freely’ enter PH – whistleblower

/ 09:08 PM February 20, 2020

MANILA, Philippines — For as high as P200,000, a blacklisted Chinese fugitive can “freely” enter the Philippines, an immigration officer who exposed the “pastillas” bribery scheme claimed when he surfaced at the Senate Thursday.

Immigration officer Allison Chiong disclosed the racket during the resumption of the Senate committee on women’s hearing into the alleged link of prostitution and human trafficking to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).

It was committee chair Senator Risa Hontiveros who initially bared the so-called “pastillas” scheme where immigration officers purportedly extort money from arriving Chinese nationals mostly employed as Pogo workers in exchange for a seamless entry into the country.

Article continues after this advertisement

Under this racket, a Chinese citizen pays a P10,000 “service fee” – P2,000 of which will be shared among officials of the BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit, duty Immigration supervisor, and terminal heads. The remaining P8,000 will then be given to tour operators and syndicates who will transport the Chinese from the airport to Pogo facilities.

FEATURED STORIES

Senator Imee Marcos asked Chiong if he has any knowledge of blacklisted fugitives from China availing themselves of the “VIP treatment” to be able to enter the country smoothly.

“May alam ka bang VVIP? Mas VIP pa sa mga normal na VIP? Kapag may blacklisting, may record na kriminal, meron bang mas malaki?” Marcos asked.

Article continues after this advertisement

(Do you know of any VVIP? More VP that the normal ones? When there is blacklisting or they have a criminal record, are there bigger clients?)

Article continues after this advertisement

“Yes, your honor. Special arrangement yan…Yung mga blacklisted, they freely enter our country,” Chiong said.

Article continues after this advertisement

(Yes, your honor. That’s a special arrangement. Those who are blacklisted, they freely enter our country.)

“Passing through na lang yon. As in hindi ii-iscan ang passport, dadaan lang yon. Package pa yon, pati sa departure (nila),” he added.

Article continues after this advertisement

(They will just pass through. Their passports will not even be scanned. That’s a package, even during their departure.)

Marcos then asked how much these Chinese fugitives would pay for such treatment.

“Iba ang rate niyan, malaki na po yan—‘di ko po for sure—pero from what I have heard, it ranges from around P50,000 to P200,000 per daan. Kapag high-profile po, milyon-milyon po yun,” Chiong claimed.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

(That’s different, it’s big—I’m not sure—but from what I have heard, it ranges from around P50,000 to P200,000 each time they will pass through. If it’s a high-profile case, they pay in millions.)

TAGS: Chinese, Chiong, Immigration

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.