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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Duterte vouches for Morente, says 'I love the guy'

Duterte vouches for Morente, says 'I love the guy'

Published Feb 21, 2020 12:00 am
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos  President Duterte on Thursday backed Bureau of Immigration (BI) chief Jaime Morente amid allegations of bribery the agency is facing, saying “he loves” the former high-ranking policeman. President Rodrigo Duterte at the Sangley Point, Saturday (JANESEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN) President Rodrigo Duterte  (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) In a speech in Davao City Thursday evening, the President said he believes Morente is not part of the so-called "pastillas scheme." However, he admitted that Morente was also not able to do anything to stop it. "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 used to be the chief of police here. He's a good guy. So he cannot stop them. He can only do so much)," he said. Duterte relieved all immigration officials and employees involved in the bribery scheme where they receive bribes from Chinese nationals to illegally work in the country. Malacañang earlier said that Duterte had received reports and found evidence of the act which to him was a "grave form of corruption." Duterte said he ordered Morente to file cases against those involved in the scheme. "Iyong lahat sa NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport), sabi ko file-an (file) mo ng kaso tapos pinaalis ko na (I told him to file cases against everyone at the NAIA and then I sacked all of them). With the end in view of dismissal," he said. The President reminded government workers to stay faithful to their jobs and he will protect them. He said he will not hesitate to kick them all out if they get involved in any irregularity. "I'm saying and this is just a figure of speech: Do not tempt the gods. Just do your work, I will protect you. Stay aligned," he said. The "pastillas" scheme was revealed in a Senate inquiry this week by opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros. She said that some Chinese nationals first enter the Philippines as tourists and later work in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs after paying immigration personnel and Chinese and Filipino travel agencies P10,000 rolled in bond paper.
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