Senate panel cites 4 people in contempt for snubbing ‘pastillas’ inquiry

Senator Risa Hontiveros says the government must go after the masterminds behind the “festering pool of corruption” within the Bureau of Immigration responsible for the so-called “pastillas scam,” during the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality hearing, Tuesday, October 6, 2020. Albert Calvelo/Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — A Senate panel on Tuesday cited in contempt four personalities linked in the “pastillas” modus after it snubbed the subpoena issued by the committee to them.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, panel vice chair Senator Imee Marcos sought to cite in contempt the resource persons subpoenaed but “refused to appear.”

Marcos was referring to former Bureau of Immigration (BI) ports operations division chief Red Mariñas and his father Maynardo Mariñas, who headed the Special Operations and Communications Unit of the BI.

Marcos also wanted BI officer Totoy Magbuhos and Danieve Binsol to be cited in contempt.

All were linked to the multi-billion scheme, with the younger Mariñas tagged by the committee’s new whistleblower as one of the alleged masterminds.

Mariñas was not present during the hearing but in an earlier inquiry, he claimed to have no knowledge of the modus wherein immigration officers allegedly extort money from Chinese nationals in exchange for a seamless entry into the Philippines.

“I think it is but proper that they should submit themselves to this committee and the continued hearing,” Marcos said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate committee, later on ruled to cite in contempt the four individuals.

“The chair rules to cite in contempt Mr. Marc Red Mariñas, Mr. Meynardo Red Mariñas, Mr. Totoy Magbuhos and Mr. Danieve Binsol,” she said.

JPV