FILE PHOTO: President Rodrigo Duterte meets with Bureau of Immigration officers who are facing charges in connection with the “Pastillas” scheme. Screengrab from PCOO Facebook video.
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of 45 Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers for their involvement in the infamous “Pastillas” scheme.
In a 143-page decision dated March 21 and approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on May 27, the 45 BI officers were found administratively liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, as they “acted willfully and with a corrupt motive.”
A copy of the Ombudsman decision was only made public recently.
“Wherefore there being substantial evidence, this Office finds the following administratively liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and are meted the penalty of dismissal from service,” the order of the Office of the Ombudsman states.
“In case the penalty of dismissal from service can no longer be served due to the respondent’s separation from public office, a fine equivalent to one year salary shall be imposed. Nevertheless, all the accessory penalties of dismissal from service shall apply,” it also says.
The Ombudsman order identified the respondents as the following:
- Grifton S. P. Medina
- Erwin S. Ortañez
- Glenn F. Comia
- Benlado J. Guevarra
- Danieve H. Binsol
- Deon C. Albao
- Arlan Edward D. Mendoza
- Anthony D. Lopez
- Cecille Jonathan P. Orozco
- Dennis T. Robles
- Bradford Allen L. So
- Vincent Bryan D. Allas
- Rodolfo I. Magbuhos Jr.
- German T. Robin
- Gabriel M. Estacio
- Ralph Ryan Garcia
- Phol B. Villanueva
- Abdul Fahad G. Calaca
- Danilo C. Deudor
- Mark D. Macababad
- Aurelio S. Lucero
- George Bituin
- Salahudin P. Hadjinoor
- Cherry Pie P. Ricolcol
- Chevy Chase R. Naniong
- Carl Jordan C. Perez
- Abdulhafez Hadji Basher
- Jeffrey Dale S. Ignacio
- Clint John Q. Simene
- Asliyah A. Maruhom
- Maria Victoria C. Jogno
- Paul C. Borja
- Hamza U. Pacasum
- Manuel B. Sarmiento
- Fidel S. Mendoza
- Dimple Mayumi R. Mallari
- Gerrymyle G. Franco
- John Michael S. Angeles
- Francis Meeka E. Flores
- Sadruddin C. Usudan
- John Kessler B. Cortez
- Mohammad Sahary B. Lomondot
- Jon Derrick Y. Go
- Aira G. Inoue
- Rovan Rey S. Manlapas
Last week, the media obtained documents from the Office of the Ombudsman indicting several officers of the BI that also included some on this list for violation of Section 3 of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
According to the Ombudsman, the BI officers gave unwarranted benefits and preferences to 143 Chinese nationals who were able to enter the Philippines without going through the required screening after receiving bribes – which was eventually branded as the “Pastillas” scheme.
In the complaint, the Ombudsman detailed how the transactions went, mostly through group chats, where bosses or Chinese suppliers acted as conduits between travel agencies and BI officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminals 1 and 2.
The Pastillas scheme gained notoriety after Senator Risa Hontiveros’ expose in February 2020 prompted a Senate probe.
According to Hontiveros, some of the Chinese nationals who managed to slip into the country were possibly sent to work in the controversial Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO).
READ: NBI must probe ‘mutating pastillas scam,’ reveal travel agencies involved – Hontiveros
As of November 2020, 86 people implicated in the scam had been charged with 83 of them suspended for six months without pay by the Office of the Ombudsman.
READ: Ombudsman suspends 45 BI execs over ‘pastillas scheme’