18 BI execs dismissed due to ‘pastillas’ scandal
The 18 respondents were dismissed from service, with the imposition of the proper accessory penalties.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) yesterday dismissed from service 18 officials and employees of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for their alleged involvement in the controversial “Pastillas scheme,” where Chinese visitors could seamlessly enter the country in exchange for bribes.
The dismissal came after the immigration officers and employees were found administratively liable for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.
Dismissed were Francis Dennis Robles, Glen Ford Comia, Rodolfo Magbuhos Jr., Deon Carlo Albao, Daniel Binsol, Paul Erik Borja, Abdul Fahad Calaca, Anthony Lopez, Gabriel Ernest Estacio, Chevy Chase Naniong, Danilo Deudor, Ralph Ryan Garcia, Phol Villanueva, Fidel Mendoza, Benlando Guevarra, Bradford Allen So, Cecille Jonathan Orozco and Erwin Ortañez.
Justice Assistant Secretary Neal Bainto said the 18 respondents were dismissed from service, with the imposition of the proper accessory penalties.
Outgoing Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra revealed the administrative case against them would be resolved soon.
“The resolution of the separate administrative case is also forthcoming. But the list of respondents in the administrative complaint is not the same set of respondents in the criminal complaint, which was submitted by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) to the Ombudsman. It is the resolution of the administrative case that will determine the disciplinary action that may be taken against the respondents therein,” Guevarra said.
Under the Pastillas scheme, Chinese visitors could enter the country in exchange for bribes: A P10,000 “service fee,” of which P2,000 would allegedly be shared among officials of the BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit, duty Immigration supervisor and terminal heads.
The remaining P8,000 would then be given to tour operators and syndicates who transported the Chinese nationals from the airport to POGO facilities.
During the Senate hearings, it was also disclosed that blacklisted Chinese fugitives would pay as much as P200,000 to “freely” enter the country.
On 7 June, graft charges were filed against dozens of BI officials and staff over the “Pastillas” bribery scheme before the Sandiganbayan.
Those who were charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act were Marc Red Mariñas, a deputy commissioner and head of the Port Operations Division, and senior immigration officers Grifton Medina, Erwin Ortañez and Glenn Ford Comia.
Bail for the immigration officials and staff was pegged at P90,000 each.