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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Aguirre denies involvement in 'pastillas' scheme

Aguirre denies involvement in 'pastillas' scheme

Published Mar 2, 2020 12:00 am
By Jeffrey Damicog Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday (March 2) denied allegations he was involved in the “pastillas” money-making scheme employed by some Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials and personnel cashing in from arriving Chinese nationals. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II (YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II (YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Aguirre reacted to claims made by media personality Ramon Tulfo in Monday’s continuation of the Senate hearing concerning the crimes that have surfaced because of Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs). “The charges of Ramon Tulfo are absolute lies and complete fabrications of Tulfo,” Aguirre said in a statement. In the Senate inquiry, Tulfo said he learned from the ‘pastillas’ whistleblower, immigration officer Allison Chiong, that Aguirre has been serving as a protector of the syndicate behind the scheme. “I was told that he was the only saying that in the Senate. That even his so-called whistleblower did not say what he was accusing me of,” Aguirre said. The former justice chief pointed out the accusations made by Tulfo were nothing new. “I filed numerous libel and cyber libel cases against Tulfo because of this same defamatory accusations, and all these complaints filed almost two years ago are now pending before the RTCs (regional trial courts) of Manila,” he said. “For repeating these falsities, I will write the Senate committee of Sen. Hontiveros to invite me and Tulfo if there is any future hearing, so I could refute them and tell Tulfo to his face that he is a liar,” he added. Because of the latest accusations made by Tulfo, Aguirre said he intends to file more charges against the media man. Aguirre claimed that his dispute with Tulfo stemmed from the former justice secretary’s refusal to consolidate the more than 70 cases the Iglesia Ni Cristo filed against Tulfo in Manila. READ MORE: Tulfo alleges Aguirre is ‘pastillas’ scheme protector, per BI whistleblower Chiong
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