Senator Risa Hontiveros will launch a probe on the Bureau of Immigration’s more expensive and new flavor of ‘pastillas scheme’ racket.
Hontiveros revealed that Chinese nationals pay Php550,000 each for them to be allowed entry to the country.
“Parang may loose thread pa na kailangan naming balikan at ibuhol tungkol dito sa pastillas dahil nag-evolve pa. Nag-mutate,” Hontiveros said in an interview.
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“Kung dati P10,000 ngayon P550,000 na per head. Akala ko nga po Covid-19 lang ang nagmu-mutate, pati pastillas scam na rin pala, parang bagong flavor na ng pastillas,” she added.
Hontiveros led the Senate investigation last year which revealed the scheme of extorting Php10,000 from Chinese nationals so that they can enter the country.
The senator is also opposing the new Visa Upon Arrival for Chinese Nationals which aims to attract Chinese tour groups.
READ ON: Immigration Bureau reassigns almost 800 officers over ‘pastillas’ bribery scheme
“Sa ngayon wala pa pong final announcement na totally ika-cancel, pero siguradong isasama po namin yan na rekomendasyon sa aming committee report,” Hontiveros said.
“I have directed the NBI to expand its investigation of ‘fixers’ activities at the BI and find out who their cohorts are among the BI personnel, so that appropriate administrative and criminal charges may be filed against them,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a statement. (TDT)
