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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider NBI ordered to probe 'escort services to foreigners by immigration personnel'

NBI ordered to probe 'escort services to foreigners by immigration personnel'

Published Oct 11, 2023 11:34 am

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been ordered to probe another "scam" in the airports allegedly involving immigration personnel who reportedly offer escort services to foreigners for their "smooth" entry to the Philippines. 

In a press briefing late Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 11, Remulla said that he has been receiving complaints on "escort services" offered by certain immigration personnel for a fee ranging from P10,000 to P20,000 per foreigner, mostly Chinese.

“I am asking the NBI to really look into this,” Remulla said. 

Last Oct. 10, a female traveller posed as an employee of the DOJ but was intercepted due fake travel authority. Remulla said government officials may be  involved.

“I cannot give any details yet but we are looking at a big scheme, that is as big as the ‘pastillas’ that may be happening now in the airports,” he said.

Under the original ‘pastillas’ scheme, immigration personnel received bribe money wrapped in white paper to make it look like the popular Filipino sweet delicacy in exchange for facilitating the entry of arriving foreigners, mostly Chinese, into the Philippines.

Remulla warned BI officials and personnel of their duties and to avoid being involved in schemes to facilitate entry of foreigners.

“These are sovereign functions that they fulfill. These are the boundaries of the country. This represents our integrity as a country and territory and we cannot allow this kind of behavior to remain,” he warned. 

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DOJ Bureau of Immigration
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