Ipinag-utos na ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang pagsibak sa lahat ng opisyal at empleyado ng Bureau of Immigration (BI) na sangkot sa “pastillas scheme” o bribery para makapasok sa bansa ang mga illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO).
Sinabi ni Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, itinuturing ni Pangulong Duterte na matinding uri ng korupsyon ang “pastillas scheme” na hindi pwedeng palampasin ng gobyerno.
Ayon kay Sec. Panelo, gaya ng paulit-ulit nilang sinasabi, walang “sacred cows” sa administrasyon at sinUmang opisyal na magkakasala sa kanilang pagpapatupad ng tungkulin ay mapaparusahan.
Sa susunod na Cabinet meeting, tatalakayin umano ang isyu ng bribery sa Immigration.
“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has relieved all officials and employees of the Bureau of Immigration who are involved in the latest bribery scheme where they purportedly facilitate the entry into — and exit from — Philippine territory of foreigners working for Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) for an unauthorized fee,” ani Sec. Panelo.
“The President considers this anomaly, which some define as the “pastillas scheme”, as a grave form of corruption which cannot be countenanced by the government. As we have repeatedly stressed, there are no sacred cows in this Administration. Any official or employee who commits any wrong in the performance of their respective duties shall be meted out with the punishment that they deserve and in accordance with our penal laws.”
Ilan sa mga pinangalanan ng Senate witness na si Immigration Officer 1 Allison Chiong sa hearing na umano’y may partisipasyon sa pastillas scheme ay ang mga sumusunod: Totoy Magbuhos, Deon Albao (alias Nancy), Paul Borja (alias Lisa), Anthony Lopez at Dennis Robles.
Maging ang mga dating Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) heads na sina Bien Guevarra, Glenn Comia at Den Binsol ay kaniya ring nabanggit.
