THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday said more immigration personnel are likely to be sanctioned once the agency wraps up its ongoing probe into the so-called pastillas scheme, which allows the smooth entry of Chinese nationals in exchange of bribe money.
“That is always a possibility depending on the results of the investigation,” BI Spokesman Dana Krizia Sandoval said when asked if more BI personnel are expected to be relieved as the agency begins its own investigation on the scheme.
Earlier, the BI has ordered the relief of 19 immigration officials and personnel believed to be involved in the corruption activity, allegedly orchestrated by a well-entrenched syndicate.
The BI has already removed the “terminal heads” at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, as well as the heads of the travel control and enforcement unit from their posts on the ground of command responsibility.
This was followed by the relief of 19 other BI personnel upon the directive of President Duterte.
They have been placed on floating status at the administrative division of the bureau under strict monitoring of activities and attendance.
Immigration Chief Jaime H. Morente said the BI is ready to cooperate with any impartial probe and lifestyle check to be conducted by authorities.
Morente expressed disappointment “with the unauthorized activities of some personnel who continue to commit irregularities despite our determined efforts to get rid of the culture of corruption in the bureau.”
“On the other hand, I am certain that after this exposé, the intense public scrutiny and accompanying trial by publicity that the bureau has been subjected to will only ensure that we come out stronger as we weather yet another storm,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sandoval said the BI has already requested the assistance of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in unmasking and going after the syndicates running the illegal activities in the bureau.
“If we just keep on removing personnel from inside, but not going after the agencies that recruit aliens illegally and offer temptations to government employees, then the cycle could just go on and on,” Sandoval said.
Morente said to deter the illegal scheme, he put in place new protocols in the conduct of secondary inspections in open areas to improve transparency and installation of additional CCTV cameras in all areas of the primary inspectors.
“This incident and the corresponding consequences should serve as a strong warning and reminder to others not to engage in any unethical practices,” Morente said.