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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BI enforces dismissal of 45 officials, employees allegedly involved in 'Pastillas' scheme

BI enforces dismissal of 45 officials, employees allegedly involved in 'Pastillas' scheme

Published Jun 13, 2022 01:40 pm

Bureau of Immigration

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has implemented the dismissal from the service of 45 officials and personnel involved in the so-called “Pastillas” extortion scheme.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Secretary Neal Vincent M. Bainto said: “We have received confirmation from the BI that they have received the said Decision and the said 45 BI employees are no longer reporting for work.”

“The decision of the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) dismissing the 45 respondents is immediately executory,” Bainto said on Monday, June 13.

The dismissal of the 45 BI officials and employees was ordered in the OMB decision dated last March 21 and approved by Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires last May 27.

The OMB found them “administratively liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”

“In case the penalty of Dismissal from Service can no longer be served due to respondent’s separation from public office, a fine equivalent to one (1) year salary shall be imposed. Nevertheless, all accessory penalties of Dismissal from Service shall apply,” the OMB said.

Bainto said that the penalty on the dismissal of the 45 BI officials and employees carries with it their perpetual disqualification to hold public office, cancellation of eligibility, bar from taking civil service examinations, and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

“In case a respondent is exonerated on MR (motion for reconsideration) or on appeal, he shall be reinstated with payment of backwages and all benefits,” he said.

The extortion scheme was called “Pastillas” because “the bribe money, serving as consideration for the illicit entry of the foreign national, was supposedly rolled up in a manner that resembles a pastillas de leche treat, a popular Filipino milk-based candy.”

Those ordered dismissed were:

Senior Immigration Officer Grifton S. Medina, former acting chief of the BI Ports Operation Division (BI-POD)

Supervising Immigration Officer Francis Dennis T. Robles

Senior Immigration Officer Glen Ford. S. Comia

Immigration Officer III Rodolfo I. Magbuhos Jr.

Senior Immigration Officer III Deon Carlo G. Albao

Senior Immigration Officer III Danieve H. Binsol

Immigration Officer II Paul Erik C. Borja

Immigration Officer III Abdul Fahad G. Calaca

Senior Immigration Officer III Anthony D. Lopez

Immigration Officer II Gabriel Ernest M. Estacio

Immigration Officer II Chevy Chase R. Naniong

Immigration Officer I Ralph Ryan M. Garcia

Immigration Officer I Phol B. Villanueva

Senior Immigration Officer III Benlado J. Guevarra

Immigration Officer III Bradford Allen L. So

Senior Immigration Officer Cecille Jonathan P. Orozco

Senior Immigration Officer Erwin S. Ortanez

Immigration Officer I Danilo C. Deudor

Security Guard 2 Fidel S. Mendoza

Immigration Officer III Arlan Edward D. Mendoza

Immigration Officer III Vincent Bryan Allas

Senior Immigration Officer Er German T. Robin

Immigration Officer I Mark Dollete Macababbad

Immigration Officer III Aurelio S. Lucero III

Immigration Officer III George V. Bituin

Immigration Officer III Salahudin P. Hadinjoor

Immigration Officer I Cherrypie P. Ricolcol

Immigration Officer I Carl Jordan C. Perez

Immigration Officer II Andulhafez D. Hadjibasher

Immigration Officer III Jeffrey Dale S. Ignacio

Immigration Officer I Clint John Q. Simene

Immigration Officer II Asliyah A. Maruhom

Immigration Officer I Maria Victoria C. Jogno

Immigration Officer I Hamza U. Pacasum

Immigration Officer II Manuel B. Sarmiento III

Immigration Officer I Dimple Mahyumi R. Mallari

Immigration Officer I Rovan Rey S. Manlapas

Gerrymyle G. Franco

John Michael S. Angeles

Francis Meeka E. Flores

Sadruddin C. Usudan

John Kessler B. Cortez

Mohammad Sahary B. Lomondot

Jon Derrick Y. Go

Aira G. Inoue

Last June 10, the DOJ also ordered the dismissal of Robles, Comia, Magbuhos Jr., Albao, Binsol, Borja, Calaca, Lopez, Estacio, Naniong, Garcia, Villanueva, Guevarra, So, Orozco, Ortanez, Deudor and Fidel S. Mendoza.

Bainto earlier said these 18 were found by the DOJ ”liable for Grave Misconduct, Gross Neglect of Duty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, in relation to the so called ‘Pastillas Scheme.’”

“The administrative case before the DOJ stemmed from the Fact-Finding Investigation Committee (FFIC) formed by the BI to investigate the Pastillas Scheme,” he said.

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