Arrest, deport aliens in ‘pastillas’ scam, Pangilinan urges gov’t

MANILA, Philippines — The government should immediately deport foreigners, mostly Chinese, who supposedly entered the country by paying off corrupt immigration personnel, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said on Saturday.

In a statement, Pangilinan urged the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to round up and initiate deportation proceedings against tens of thousands of aliens who supposedly benefitted from the “pastillas” bribery scheme.

“Since it has been established by testimonial evidence that tens of thousands of these Chinese nationals entered the country through illegal means then they should immediately be arrested and deported,” he said.

Pangilinan has filed Senate Resolution No. 558, which urges Congress to investigate, in aid of legislation, the national security implications of the entry of around 4 million Chinese into the country since 2017.

The presence of the large number of Chinese in the country could be tantamount to a “soft invasion” in the Philippines, Pangilinan said, in light of the country’s ongoing territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea.

According to the senator, Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended by Republic Act No. 503, mandates government to arrest, deport and blacklist aliens who have committed illegal acts under Philippine laws.

“Foreign nationals who have circumvented immigration laws in connivance with corrupt immigration employees have forfeited their right to stay in the country and therefore should be arrested and immediately deported,” Pangilinan said.

He challenged the BI to step up its crackdown on illegal aliens.

“Illegal nationals take away jobs from Filipinos, rob the government of taxes, and possibly put our national security at risk,” he said.