‘Pastillas’ scheme whistleblower surfaces at Senate probe
MANILA, Philippines — The whistleblower who exposed the alleged “pastillas” money-making scheme within the Bureau of Immigration (BI) surfaced at the Senate on Thursday to personally testify on the multi-billion peso scheme.
“My primary function as an immigration officer involves operating the counter in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) wherein I am tasked to examine the travel documents of departing and arriving passengers rotating in its three terminals,” immigration officer Allison “Alex” Chiong said in his opening statement.
“As a frontline immigration officer, I have personally witnessed various illegal transactions over the years involving the extortion of money in exchange for unimpeded passage through the Philippines whether leaving or entering our country,” he added.
Early this week, Senator Risa Hontiveros exposed the “pastillas” scheme wherein immigration officers purportedly extort money from Chinese nationals wanting to work in Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), in exchange for a seamless entry into the country.
Before this, Hontiveros had previously conducted a hearing into the alleged prostitution dens linked with Pogos.
This particular hearing, Chiong said, compelled him to “come forward to share what I know as a frontliner.”