NBI employee arrested over alleged bribery, extortion

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente welcomed the arrest of an NBI employee for alleged bribery and extortion.

“We welcome the entrapment of the NBI on their employee who was allegedly fixing cases of those involved in the pastillas scheme,” said Morente. “This is a result of our previous request for NBI assistance in investigating allegations of corruption in our ranks,” he added.

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Earlier this month, the National Bureau of Investigation recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman to suspend 19 immigration personnel for violation of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti Graft Law.

“We will continue to pursue our campaign against BI personnel engaged in corrupt activities in coordination with NBI and other law enforcement agencies in support of President Duterte’s desire to cleanse the agency,” Morente stated. “Rogue employees that are involved in corruption only smear the name of the Bureau, and should face harsh penalties,” he said.

Meanwhile, Morente also said they are working with the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, as well as the Department of Justice on the investigation of the alleged Pastillas scheme.

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NBI employee arrested over alleged bribery, extortion

“We have submitted the documents and information requested for the investigation,” said Morente. “We are working with those involved in the investigation as we are really serious in our goal of cleansing our ranks,” he added.

“The Senate Committee earlier today conducted another hearing on the alleged Pastillas scheme. The hearing concluded with the recommendation of the Committee to have a top to bottom reorganization, suspend all involved, and suspend the VUA system,” BI said in a press released posted on Facebook.

In January, the BI already suspended the Visa Upon Arrival facility to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

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“We also support the recommendations of the committee on the reorganization of the Bureau and the suspension of those involved,” said Morente. “In fact, we have already relieved the names that were mentioned in the hearing, as well as implemented a system-wide reorganization. We implemented a total revamp of our airport personnel, all terminal heads, and all Travel Control and Enforcement heads earlier this year. I have likewise recommended the immediate relief of the sitting Chief of the Port Operations Division, pending the resolution of the investigation,” he stated.