Duterte gives BI chief Morente a chance to address ‘pastillas’ scheme

MANILA, Philippines — Convinced that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) chief is not involved in the so-called “pastillas” bribery scheme, President Rodrigo Duterte is giving BI Commissioner Jaime Morente a chance to address the issues surrounding the agency.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Morente attended Monday night’s Cabinet meeting where he supposedly “reported on what they intend to do” about the pastillas scheme.

The modus, which was exposed by opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros in a recent Senate inquiry, purportedly involves airport and immigration personnel who supposedly receive kickbacks in exchange for the seamless entry of Chinese people into the country.

“Apparently he (Duterte) is giving Commissioner Morente a chance to do some innovations in the Immigration (Bureau),” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

The Palace official said Morente is introducing an executive order to augment the bureau’s power in battling corruption.

Morente earlier admitted that it is difficult for him to address a syndicated operation such as the “pastillas” scheme due to “his limited powers.”

Duterte also publicly expressed his support to Morente amid the issue.

However, Panelo said Morente is not yet off the hook as investigation on the immigration scam is still ongoing.

“Let me make it very clear, there’s nobody that is exempted from any investigation when there is a complaint of corruption. Regardless of who you are, if there’s a complaint, you will be investigated,” he said.

The President has ordered the relief of all immigration officials and employees involved in the pastillas scheme.

Under the “pastillas” operation, an arriving Chinese reportedly shells out a P10,000 service fee, of which P2,000 will be divided among officials of the BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit, duty Immigration supervisor, and terminal heads. The rest of the amount will be given to tour operators and syndicates who will transport the Chinese from the airport to facilities of Philippine offshore gaming operations.

The scheme was called “pastillas” supposedly because the bribe money would be rolled in a bond paper like the wrapping of the Filipino milk candy.