Filing of raps doesn’t end ‘pastillas’ probe, says Hontiveros
MANILA, Philippines — The filing of complaints against 86 personalities being linked to the “pastillas” scheme, including its alleged mastermind, will not stop the Senate from further investigating the illegal immigration racket, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Friday.
In a statement, Hontiveros said she was pleased that the alleged mastermind of the scheme, Bureau of Immigration (BI) ports chief Marc Red Mariñas and 85 others are finally facing complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“It’s not over. I have always said that our Senate inquiry into the ‘pastillas’ scam will not end until we catch the ‘big fish’ behind this illegal multi-billion-peso racket,” she said.
The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which Hontiveros chairs, has been conducting an investigation on the “pastillas” scheme, wherein immigration officers allegedly extort money from Chinese nationals in exchange for their smooth entry into the Philippines.
Hontiveros noted that the committee started the hearing “to protect women and children from the scourge of human trafficking and the illegal entry of aliens into our borders.”
“But our investigation also revealed a festering pool of corruption in the BI, and potentially, in other institutions as well,” she said.
“But it doesn’t end here. Hindi kay Mariñas natatapos ang aming imbestigasyon. Naniniwala ako na may mas malalaking pangalan pa ang sangkot dahil sa laki, lawak, at lalim ng mga illegal business venture na ito na nakapalibot sa Visa Upon Arrival scheme at human trafficking ng mga Pilipina palabas ng Pilipinas,” Hontiveros added.
(But it does not end there. Our investigation will not end with Mariñas. I believe there is a bigger name involved because of the huge, wide, and deep reach of this illegal business venture that surrounds the Visa Upon Arrival scheme and human trafficking of Filipino women outside the Philippines.)
The senator also thanked immigration officers Alex Chiong and Dale Ignacio, who served as whistleblowers on the alleged illegal practices at BI, for their testimonies that were “critical” to identifying Mariñas as the alleged ringleader of the scheme.
