More Philippine immigration officers sacked as witness details scam

Allison Chiong

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN): President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the sacking of all immigration officials and employees allegedly involved in a bribery scheme that allowed hundreds of thousands of Chinese to illegally enter the country to work for Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) as a whistleblower unravelled more details of the airport payoffs during a Senate hearing on Thursday (Feb 20).

“The President considers this anomaly, which some define as the ‘pastillas scheme, ’ as a grave form of corruption which cannot be countenanced by the government, ” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.