‘Parang pyramid ‘yan:’ Ex-ports operation chief tagged as ‘ringleader’ of ‘pastillas’ racket

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. During the hearing, Hontiveros presented the testimony of a new whistleblower, immigration officer Jeffrey Ignacio, who tagged former Bureau of Immigration (BI) deputy commissioner Marc Red Mariñas one of the masterminds of the ‘pastillas’ scam.   (Albert Calvelo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — A self-confessed member of the so-called “pastillas” group on Tuesday tagged a former ports operation division (POD) chief of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) as the alleged “ringleader” of the racket.

During a Senate committee on women hearing into the “pastillas” operation, Immigration Officer II Jeffrey Dale Ignacio, who was presented as the second whistleblower, also outlined the supposed chain of command leading the multi-billion scheme.

Under the bribery racket, immigration officers allegedly extort money from Chinese nationals in exchange for a seamless entry into the Philippines.

“Hindi naman po kami makakagalaw…kung wala pong basbas sa taas,” Ignacio, who described himself as one of the “pastillas foot soldiers,” told the Senate committee.

(We can’t move on our own without the blessing of the higher-ups.)

Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the panel, then asked Ignacio: “Sino dito ang pinaka-head or pinaka-leader?”

(Who is the head or the leader?)

Ignacio tagged former POD chief Marc Red Mariñas, who was also earlier tagged in the scheme by the first witness, immigration officer Allison Chiong.

“Parang pyramid kasi yan. Yung nasa pinakataas po si Sir Marc Red Mariñas,” Ignacio added.

(It’s like a pyramid. At the top is Sir Marc Red Mariñas.)

“For emphasis, yung ringleader ng ‘pastillas’ scam ay si Mr. Mariñas?” Hontiveros asked. Ignacio answered in the affirmative.

(For emphasis, the ringleader of the ‘pastillas’ scam is Mr. Mariñas?)

Mariñas was not present during Tuesday’s hearing, but in an earlier inquiry last March, he claimed not to know the modus.

Meanwhile, Ignacio identified Mariñas’ staff assistant Fidel Mendoza and Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) chief Erwin Ortanez as the “right hand” men.

Under them are TCEU terminal heads Glennford Benlado Guevarra and Denden Binsol, according to Ignacio.

“Tapos may deputy heads pa po (And then they have their deputy heads): Deon Carlo Albao, Arlan Mendoza and Anthony Lopez,” the witness said.

All of the names mentioned by Ignacio, however, claimed they have no personal knowledge of the scam.

“We will see to it that the masterminds behind this deep, deep corruption in the Bureau of Immigration will pay for their crime. Magbabayad kayo,” Hontiveros said as she ended Tuesday’s hearing.

“Hindi lang ang mga foot soldiers ang mananagot, kundi kayong mga naghahari-an,” she added. [ac]