The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has committed to run after its personnel involved in corruption and other illegal activities as part of its strategic plan for 2023.
"I will personally handcuff our workers involved in illegal activities like the pastillas racket," BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in his year-end message.
The pastillas scam, exposed in 2020 in a Senate hearing, was named after a popular delicacy as the bribe money to be spared from immigration process was wrapped and folded like the local milk candy.
When he was appointed to the top BI post three months ago, Tansingco said he would focus his attention in fighting graft and corruption, border security, modernization and improvement of employes' welfare.
The BI chief said he launched various projects to make it easier for local and foreign travelers to enter and exit the country like the e-travel website, or platform to eliminate the arrival card requirements.
The BI also linked its computers system with the Department of Migrant Workers to reduce paper-based requirements for Overseas Filipino Workers.
It also set up a 24-7 one-stop-shop was established at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to handle the urgent needs of foreign passengers.
Tansingco said foreign tourists can now extend their stay in the country through online visa waiver project.
Cybercrime hubs were also set up at international airports to intercept the entry and exit of wanted and undesirable foreign passengers.
"We celebrate a new beginning for the bureau. We look forward for a better future, despite many challenges and issues," he added.