A Bureau of Immigration security guard is among those being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) connected with the “Pastillas” scheme due to his possession of property worth up to P14 million even though his salary is only P10,000 per month.
In a report by John Consulta on GMA News “24 Oras” on Thursday, the NBI Special Action Unit official said that the security guard declared in his SALN (statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth) in 2018 the total assets amounting to more than P14 million.
The security guard allegedly declared that he had bought a house worth P4.5 million, had jewelry, two SUV vehicles, and traveled abroad eight times a year, including Japan, America, and Europe.
“Ang security guard, salary grade 4 or 5 lang ‘yan… So more or less kung sumesuweldo ‘yan, P8,000 ang maximum. P8,000 to P10,000 ‘yan a month,” explained Jun Donggalio, NBI Special Action unit chief.
“Pag sobrang laki naman ng idineklera mo na hindi mo na maja-justify… it is safe to say na puwedeng may kinalaman ka talaga diyan sa ‘pastillas’,” he added.
Aside from the security guard, an Immigration officer also showed rapid growth of property based on the SALN also submitted.
It is said that from the P227,000 networth declared in 2015, it rose to P1.4 million just a year later (2016). By 2018, which is said to be the strength of the pastillas scheme, his property has risen to more than P5 million.
Immigration security guard has P14-M worth of properties
“Halos P1.2 million ang nadagdag. So sa isang taon makikita niyo po na medyo may discrepancy talaga, considering na ang suweldo niya mga nasa ano lang ‘yan P20,000 plus a month,” said Dongallio.
“Itong SALN, ‘yung declaration nila diyan, magiging part ng ebidensya natin ‘yan sa imbestigasyon natin sa pastillas case,” the official added.
20 high-ranking Immigration officials are also said to have undergone a lifestyle check and would be facing charges regarding the pastillas scheme.
An official allegedly earns P33,000 per month but declared P27 million worth of property.
His assets include condo units, expensive vehicles, and even houses and land, according to Donggalio.
The NBI expects the case to be filed against Immigration officials in the last week of October or the first week of November.
The pastillas scheme is a conspiracy by BI members to bring foreigners, particularly the Chinese, into the country, even if their documents are not carefully reviewed.