The  whistleblower in the alleged corruption in the  entry of Chinese workers and fugitives into the country on Thursday  identified  former officials, including Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)   terminal heads,  and incumbent employees of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in the so-called “pastillas” racket.

Facing for the first time the Senate hearing on human trafficking and prostitution of women and children, Immigration officer Allison “Alex” Chiong  stressed they are the ones leading “syndicated groups” that facilitate the smooth entry of Chinese who arrive in the county mostly to work in POGOs.

Chiong testified that  these groups work with China-based travel agencies, where the names of the entering foreign nationals emanate.

“The syndicated groups would often compete with each other to gain favor from the Chinese travel agencies,” he said.

He revealed that they gave bribes ranging from P50,000 and P200,000 so that the Chinese nationals even those blacklisted  can freely enter our country. They pass the Immigration counter without any question.

He said the syndicated groups were headed by different personalities within the bureau.  Some of these personalities, who occupy various plantilla positions within Bureau of Immigration are Totoy Magbuhos, Deon Albao (alias Nancy), Paul Borja (alias Lisa), Anthony Lopez (alias AL), and Dennis Robles (alias DR).

He earlier provided the panel chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros videos showing how border control officials accepted bribes from Chinese tour operators in exchange for the “seamless” entry of some Chinese nationals seeking to work in the POGO industry.

It was dubbed as the “pastillas” modus, where bribes were sometimes rolled in bond papers resembling  a popular Filipino sweet delicacy.

Chiong  also described pastillas as Chinese money wrapped in plastic.  He also divulged the so-called “pastillas time” when huge amount of money were distributed.

Hontiveros said she was informed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III that Chiong will be granted immunity being a whistleblower. He will be placed under the Government’s Witness Protection Program.

Meanwhile, Chiong also identified the following immigration officials in the “pastillas” racket as: former  Immigratiom Deputy Commissioner Marc Red Mariñas and Travel Control Enforcement Unit officials Bien  Guevarra, Glenn Comia, Den Binsol, Totoy Magbuhos, Dion Albao, Paul Borja,  Anthony Lopez, Dennis Robles, Erwin Ortañez, Fidel Mendoza and Meynard Mariñas.

Chiong said  Comia, Guevarra and Binsol, who former head of immigration operations in NAIA’s terminals 1, 2 and 3, respectively – “took over” and systematized the modus sometime in 2016 after the Department of Justice removed overtime pay for immigration officials. He said the three were also the “primary conduits” of Chinese travelers.

Hontiveros said those named by Chiong will be summoned to attend the next Senate hearing.

Chiong, who admitted getting his share from the “pastillas scheme”  related that the removal of overtime pay triggered unrest and disgruntlement” among Immigration officials.

To cope up with their expenses, he said some officers began “offering VIP services” for Chinese nationals and casino high rollers.

“I think only about 10 percent of Immigration officials have no involvement in this,” related Chiong.

According to Chiong, he decided to expose the modus after watching the Senate’s inquiry on how the rise of POGOs  led to the proliferation of prostitution in the country.

He said every Filipino had the right to know this since we need to watch our birders.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente told senators that a fact-finding team has been formed to investigate the modus. However, he said  his office has no power to discipline tainted officials since these Immigration personnel were appointed by the Department of Justice.

“I was given by the law limited  authority. I cannot even suspend since I am no the  appointing authority. The principle in civil service is that the appointing authority is the dismissing authority,” stressed Morente.

He also called on  other Immigration officials to report illegal schemes within the agency.

“I am very glad that these people are exposed because they give the Bureau a bad name,” he said.

“Yung matitino nating Immigration officers – most of them sacrificed even their own personal safety dahil sa outbreak ng NCOV – it’s very unfair to them,” he said.

“Maraming matitino na Immigration officers natin… Probably he was talking about NAIA airports, but in general I think I can with confidence say na marami tayong matitinong Immigration officers,” he said.

Hontiveros early this week disclosed the pastillas scam, wherein immigration officers and employees allegedly give “VIP treatment” to Chinese who cough up P10,000 each for their seamless entry.

“Immigration officers received, through a group chat in the Viber application, a list of names of Chinese nationals who were to be allowed entry into the Philippines without going through the usual immigration process,” Chiong said in his sworn affidavit, which he read during the Senate probe.

“News of the operation spread fast. This time, other syndicated groups within the Bureau of Immigration started submitting their own list of names of Chinese nationals,” he also said./Stacy Ang