Philippine immigration scam for Chinese travellers involved 9 in 10 staff, says whistle-blower

Philippine immigration officer tells senate even foreigners with criminal records were allowed to enter country – for a price

There was a ‘dramatic increase’ in Chinese arrivals as disgruntled staff supplemented income with bribes after loss of overtime pay

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Officials at Manila’s airport preparing the alleged pastillas pay-offs. Photo: Handout

Published: 10:29pm, 20 Feb 2020Updated: 11:51pm, 20 Feb 2020

A whistle-blower who exposed a Philippine Bureau of Immigration syndicate that earned billions of pesos selling entry to Chinese nationals has identified himself – and claimed that 90 per cent of the department’s staff were involved in the racket.

Immigration officer Allison Chiong told a senate hearing on Thursday the scam even enabled foreigners who were blacklisted or had criminal records to enter and leave the Philippines without being scrutinised or stopped at the airport.

“I had to expose what happened,” he told the hearing. “I have personally witnessed various illegal transactions over the years involving extortion of money in exchange for unimpeded passage through the Philippines, whether leaving or entering the country.”

His testimony came as presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced that President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered all personnel involved in the racket to be “relieved” – a floating status that would see them working in the bureau pending investigation and possible reassignment.

The racket was exposed on Monday, when senator Risa Hontiveros told the hearing that Chinese nationals had paid 10,000 Philippine pesos (US$200) apiece to agencies in China so that when they arrived in Manila they would be waved through immigration procedures.

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