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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 35 ex-BI officials, workers plead 'not guilty' when arraigned on 'Pastillas' graft charges

35 ex-BI officials, workers plead 'not guilty' when arraigned on 'Pastillas' graft charges

Published Sep 9, 2022 05:40 pm

Sandiganbayan

Thirty-five former officials and employees of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) pleaded not guilty when arraigned on Friday, Sept. 9, on graft charges filed against them in connection with the “Pastillas” extortion scheme.

One of those arraigned was Senior Immigration Officer Grifton San Pedro Medina. Former Deputy Commissioner Marc Red A. Mariñas refused to enter a plea and thus, under the rules, a “not guilty” plea was entered into the records of the cases.

Whistleblower and Immigration Officer III Jeffrey Dale "Boss Nyefi" S. Ignacio was dropped as one of the accused.

The anti-graft court granted the prosecution's motion to remove Ignacio from the criminal charge sheet as he is set to testify against his fellow BI officials who were accused of giving VIP treatment to 143 foreign passengers from 2017 to 2020 at P10,000 each or a total of P1.43 million.

The bribery scheme was called "Pastillas" because the foreign nationals were allowed entry into the country without undergoing profiling, screening, and checking, and the bribe money would then be placed in a wrapper that is used for the pastillas de leche treat.

The other officials and employees arraigned were Senior Immigration Officer Grifton San Pedro Medina, Senior Immigration Officer Erwin S. Ortañez, Senior Immigration Officer Glenn Ford S. Comia, Senior Immigration Officer Immigration Officer III Benlando "Bien" J. Guevarra, Senior Immigration Officer Immigration Officer III Danieve "Den" H. Binsol, Senior Immigration Officer Immigration Officer III Deon "Nancy" Carlo Garcia Albao,

Senior Immigration Officer Immigration Officer III Arlan Edward D. Mendoza, Senior Immigration Officer Immigration Officer III Anthony "Al" D. Lopez, Senior Immigration Officer Cecille Jonathan P. Orozco, Supervising Immigration Officer Francis Dennis T. Robles, Immigration Officer III Bradford Allan L. So, Immigration Officer III Vincent Bryan Del Rosario Allas, Immigration Officer III Senior Immigration Officers Rodolfo "Totoy" I. Magbuhos Jr.,

Immigration Officer III German T. Robin, Immigration Officer II Gabriel Ernest "Gabe" M. Estacio, Immigration Officer I Ralph Ryan "RG" M. Garcia, Immigration Officer I Phol "Vexana III" B. Villanueva, Immigration Officer III Abdul Fahad "Sharpedge Calaca" G. Calaca, Immigration Officer I Mark "Fakehappy" D. Macababbad, Immigration Officer III Aurelio Somera "Amboy" Lucero III, Immigration Officer III George V. Bituin,

Immigration Officer III Salahudin F. Hadjinoor, Immigration Officer I Cherrypie "Chepie" P. Ricolcol, Immigration Officer II Chevy Chase R. Naniong, Immigration Officer I Carl Jordan C. Perez, Immigration Officer II Abdulhafez Dela Tonga Hadjbasher, Immigration Officer I Clint John Q. Simene, Immigration Officer II Asliyah A. Maruhom, Immigration Officer I Maria Victoria C. Jogno, Immigration Officer II Paul Erik "Liza" C. Borja, Immigration Officer I Hamza U. Pacasum, Immigration Officer II Manuel B. Sarmiento III,

Security Guard 2 Fidel Santoc Mendoza, Immigration Officer I Dimple Mahyumi R. Mallari, Gerrymyie "Gem" 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 Garcia Inoue, Immigration Officer I Royan Rey S. Manlapas. Administrative Assistant VI Angelica B. Omampo, Administrative Assistant VI Yanni M. Hao, Administrative Assistant VI George Gilbert T. Ong, and Administrative Assistant VI Cathy Devela Cu.

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