By Myris Lee
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said the 45 Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel involved in the infamous ‘pastillas scheme’ are no longer reporting to work following the dismissal order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB).
The dismissed personnel were found administratively liable for grave misconduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service for facilitating the arrival and/or departure of Chinese nationals without going through the appropriate Immigration formalities by billing them 10,000 pesos.
The Chinese nationals who managed to enter the country were said to be sent to work in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO).
“The Ombudsman Decision dismissing the 45 respondents is immediately executory,” DOJ ASec. Neal Bainto said.
“We have also received confirmation from the BI that they have received the said decision and the said 45 BI employees are no longer reporting for work,” Bainto added.
The conspiracy exposed by Senator Risa Honteveros in February was tagged as “Pastillas”, because the bribe money which served as payment for the unauthorized entry of foreigners was allegedly rolled in a form that resembled the popular Filipino milk treat. – ag
