Ex-ports operation chief says not aware of BI ‘pastillas’ scheme

Bureau of Immigration Marc Red Mariñas attends senate hearing on “pastillas” bribery scheme for Pogo workers on March 2. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — A former ports operation division (POD) chief of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) whose name was linked to the so-called “pastillas” scheme claimed to have no knowledge of the modus that allegedly extorts money from Chinese national in exchange for a seamless entry into the Philippines.

READ: More sacked as witness details ‘Pastillas’ scam

During Monday’s resumption of the Senate committee on women hearing on alleged prostitution and trafficking linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), Senator Risa Hontiveros asked former POD chief Marc Red Mariñas if Allison Chiong was lying when he blew the whistle on the purported immigration bribery scheme.

READ: ‘Pastillas’ scheme whistleblower surfaces at Senate probe

“Is Mr. Chiong lying?” Hontiveros asked Mariñas.

The former POD chief, who was appointed in 2016, did not give a categorical answer and said he was not aware of such scheme.

“Nung pong panahon ko, wala pong pastillas scheme na nangyayari. ‘Di ko po alam ang pastillas scheme na binabanggit ni Mr. Allison Chiong,” he said.

Pressed for a categorical answer, Hontiveros asked: “So ibig niyo pong sabihin, nagsisisnungaling si Mr. Chiong?”

“Yes, your honor,” Mariñas then responded.

Under the “pastillas” racket, a Chinese citizen pays  a P10,000 “service fee” – P2,000 of which will be shared allegedly among officials of the BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU), duty Immigration supervisor, and terminal heads. The remaining P8,000 will then be given to tour operators and syndicates who will transport the Chinese from the airport to Pogo facilities.