Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go is urging the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to ‘work double time’ in probing the alleged corruption issues at the Bureau of Immigration (BI), particularly the ‘’pastilas’’ scheme.
“President Duterte is awaiting the results of the investigations on the alleged ‘pastillas scheme’ and that this administration remains committed in stamping out systemic corruption in government,” Go said during a public hearing conducted yesterday by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.
“Sa NBI po, please work double time sa inyong imbestigasyon. Naghihintay na po ang ating mahal na Pangulo at nakahanda na po ‘yung pastillas na ipapakain niya po sa mga sangkot ,’’ he said. (To the NBI, please work double time in your investigation, our beloved President is waiting and he is ready to feed the pastillas to the those involved.)
“Parati niya pong tinatanong sa akin, sino ba ‘yung mga sangkot? Gusto nating malaman, sino ba talaga ‘yung totoong sangkot dito. At itong pastillas na ito ay hindi po ito ganoon katamis at sigurado po akong mahirap lunukin ang pastillas na ito,’’ he added. (He keeps on asking me, who are those involved? We want to know who are those involved in the scheme. And this pastillas is not really that sweet and perhaps it cannot be easily swallowed.)
Go also urged heads of agencies and departments to cleanse their own offices of systemic corruption in order to improve their services.
“Let us not be afraid to investigate, prosecute, audit, lifestyle check, and put in jail those who must account for their transgressions. Nakiusap ako na hanapin ang tunay na may sala at lahat ng involved sa scheme na ito at panagutin. It has been dragging already. Kailangan pong malaman na po ng taumbayan kung ano ba talaga ang puno’t dulo dito, at sino ba ang mga may kasalanan,’’ he added. (I am appealing to you to look for all those involved in the scheme and make them accountable for their acts. It has been dragging already. There’s a need for the public to know this and find out who are the guilty ones.)
Amid the corruption controversies, the senator from Davao said he believes there are still good people working in the BI.
He also challenged BI Commissioner Jaime Morente to cleanse the bureau's ranks of corrupt officials and workers.
“Nandiyan rin po si Commissioner Jaime Morente. I’m challenging you na linisin mo po ang hanay o ‘yung opisina dahil mataas po ang expectation ng mahal na Pangulo sa ’yo, kaya ka po nilagay diyan,’’ he added. (Commissioner Jaime Morente is there. I’m challenging you to cleanse your ranks or your office because the President has a very high expectation of you and that’s the reason why you were assigned there.)
In his manifestation made during the public hearing, Go also thanked the new witnesses who provided more information that will help in the Senate investigation.
“Thankfully, humarap sa komiteng ito si Immigration Officer Jeffrey Ignacio at dahil sa testimonya niya ay sana po ay maisiwalat na ang katotohanan. Kung ano lang po ang totoo,’’ Go said. (Immigration Officer Jeffrey Ignacio faced the committee, and with his testimony, it is expected that the truth will come out), towards finding the real masterminds of this unlawful scheme,” he said.
Go also urged those who have witnessed corruption in the BI to come forward.
He lamented that the masterminds have not yet been identified and made to account for their crimes.
“Tulad ng sinabi ko noon, kung talagang sangkot o kasabwat kayo sa mga anomalyang naganap at nagaganap dyan sa Bureau of Immigration, umamin na kayo at harapin ninyo ang parusa para dyan sa mga katiwalian ninyo,’’ he said. (As what I have said before, if you’re really involved or in connivance in the anomaly at the Bureau of Immigration, admit it and face the consequences of your transgression.)
Go expressed disappointment that the recent augmentation pay given to immigration employees was not enough to stop corruption in the bureau.
“Noong tinanggal ang overtime pay, at nabawasan po ang compensation package ng officers, and more than 200 officers resigned, dito raw po nagsimula ma-tempt ang mga officers sa corruption,’’ he said. (When the overtime pay was cut, and the compensation package of officers was reduced, and more than 200 officers resigned, this was supposedly when the officers were tempted to commit acts of corruption.)
“Nakakalungkot na hindi pa pala sapat ang tulong namin ni Pangulong Duterte noon para mabigyan kayo ng augmentation pay noong mawala ang inyong express lane pay. Ito pa pala ang nag-udyok sa inyo na pumasok sa kalokohan at wala pong ano mang dahilan na pumasok sa korapsyon dahil talagang galit kami ni Pangulo sa korapsyon,’’ he added. (It’s sad that the help extended by President Duterte was not enough to stop the express lane pay. This was the one that convinced you to engage in corruption. President Durterte and I hate corruption.)
If needed, Go said that he would recommend the creation of a task force that will investigate the corruption issues within the BI.
“Iyan po ang kanyang pinanghahawakan sa administrasyong ito -- ang kampanya niya laban sa droga, kampanya laban sa kriminalidad, at kampanya laban sa korapsyon,’’ he added. (This administration will pursue with its campaign against illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption.)
“At kung kakailanganin po, I will recommend again to the President na magkaroon po ng another task force,’’ he said. (If needed, I will recommend again to the President the formation of another task force.)
Go expressed hopes that the corruption issues in the BI will finally be resolved and for the perpetrators to be held accountable.