Immigration counters at Terminal 1, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Pasay City, April 13, 2018. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA — Facilitators of an “irregular” practice in which Chinese nationals were allowed a “seamless” entry into the Philippines in exchange of extorted money were given P500 per individual they assisted, a “pastillas” scam whistleblower said on Wednesday.
“Pastillas” scam is a bribery scheme wherein Chinese nationals pay immigration officials P10,000 rolled in a paper to avoid rigid profiling to enter the country.
Former immigration officer and whistleblower Allison Chiong testified again in the resumption of the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division’s graft trial against ex-immigration officials including former Port Operations Division chief Marc Red Mariñas.
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During the cross examination, former immigration personnel Dennis Robles’ counsel Aster Araneta asked whether Chiong received P1,000 from her client. The witness replied yes.
While Chiong did not ask what the money was for, he said he understood that it was for facilitating the entry of two Chinese travelers — P500 for each.
He, however, stressed that during that time, the “pastillas” scheme was not yet organized. But he called the practice “informal” and “irregular.”
Chiong has previously submitted photos of some members of the “pastillas” scheme on a trip. He said he downloaded the photos from online to show that the former officials were having a “lavish” lifestyle.
Upon Araneta’s questioning, the whistleblower said he does not know how the trip was funded.
When asked by lawyer JE Froilan Clerigo, counsel of immigration official Benlando Guevarra, if Chiong had attended the “lavish” party, he replied in the negative.
The witness likewise confirmed that Guevarra was not a Chinese supplier.
Jason Runes, counsel of former official Glenn Comia, inquired if Chiong had received instructions from his client. The witness answered that he had received directions through a group chat, in which the initials "GC" was written.
Runes pressed the basis for saying that GC stands for his client’s initials. Chiong said that he knows it as a member of the group.
Shirley Mae Tabangcura-Dasco, the counsel of Arlan Mendoza, inquired if Chiong supplied a list of foreign passengers to be facilitated. Chiong responded in the affirmative, but noted that he did not personally see Mendoza doing it.
Chiong said there were 143 victim passengers.
The next trial is set for Oct. 7.
In the previous hearing, the whistleblower said Robles, Erwin Ortañez, and Anthony Lopez were the “bosses” of the scheme.
The “pastillas” scheme was exposed in 2020, during the time when there was a huge volume of Chinese nationals entering the country.
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