By Genalyn Kabiling  Bureau Immigration (BI) chief Jaime Morente is not yet entirely off the hook in terms of accountability over the controversial "pastillas" bribery scheme hounding the agency. Even after President Duterte defended the integrity of the immigration chief, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo asserted that an investigation in the bureau will cover Morente, particularly on how he runs the agency. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo
(OPS / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) The performance of Morente and the situation in the immigration bureau will be discussed by President Duterte and the Cabinet in their next meeting at the Palace, according to Panelo. "I've said (that) everyone is not off the hook. The confidence is there unless contrary stated by the President,” Panelo said in an interview with reporters at the Palace. "Pine-praise niya pero mayroon din siyang bawi din. Mahal ko to pero.. kaya lang nalusutan (The President praised him but he took a swipe. 'I love him but something slipped past him)," he added. Asked if the government probe on the corruption scandal includes Morente: "Oo. lahat yun siyempre. Pag involved ang isang opisina, eh di lahat (Yes. everyone of course. If an agency is involved, everyone is included.) "It means he (Morente) will be assessed, his performance," he added. He noted that the President had previously dismissed officials for either corruption or incompetence. Some trusted officials have been transferred to other government posts where they could perform better, he added. "If you’re incompetent, he will fire you. If you are corrupt, he will fire you. There is no connection between our friendship and your job. Your job is different,” Panelo said in an earlier television interview. On Thursday, the President ordered the relief of immigration personnel involved in the “pastillas" scheme where they allegedly get bribes in exchange for the entry of Chinese workers. The Palace said the President considers such anomaly as a grave form of corruption that cannot be tolerated by the government. The President vouched for the integrity of Morente, saying he "loves” the former head of the Davao regional office. He acknowledged that Morente has limited capability in leading the bureau. "Itong si Morente, mahal ko ‘yan kasi chief of police ‘yan dito, mabait ‘yan. So hindi niya kaya. Sabi niya... Limitado man rin kasi sa ano (I love Morente because he was the chief of police here. He is good. He can't do it. There are still limits)," he said during the graduation of public safety officers in Davao City. The "pastillas" scheme allegedly involving immigration personnel was first revealed in a Senate inquiry initiated by Sen. Risa Hontiveros. Chinese nationals planning to work in the offshore gaming industry reportedly pay immigration personnel P10,000 to facilitate their easy entry to the country. Panelo noted that the President usually calls for an investigation whenever there is an incident or issue besetting a government agency. On the issue of command responsibility in the bribery scandal that rocked the immigration agency, Panelo mentioned that erring public servants have been fired from their posts. "Marami siya tinanggal, transfer pag hindi mo kaya yun trabaho mo dyan sa isang lugar. May tiwala sa inyo ni Presidente. ilalagay ka doon baka sa mas tama sa credential mo o kakayahan mo (He has dismissed many, transferred others if you can't handle your job. If the President trusts you, he will put you in a post that fits your credential, competence)," he said. Panelo said the immigration personnel involved in the bribery scheme will be facing corruption charges. He maintained that there is no sacred cow in the administration. "Any official or employee who commits any wrong in the performance of their respective duties shall be meted out with the punishment that they deserve and in accordance with our penal laws,” he said. READ MORE: BI official testifies at Senate, reveals inner workings of ‘pastillas’ scheme