By Prince Golez
Malacañang on Wednesday welcomed the dismissal order of the Office of the Ombudsman against 45 Bureau of Immigrstion (BI) officials and agents involved in the “pastillas” scam.
Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said the recent decision of the Ombudsman underscores that there are no sacred cows in administration’s fight against corruption.
“We welcome this decision as it shows the current government’s zero tolerance policy against corruption in the bureaucracy,” Andanar said in a statement.
The secretary, however, acknowledged that fighting corruption remains a challenge.
“We are, therefore, pushing for automation of government systems to avoid face-to-face contact at the same eliminate redundant processes, for effective and efficient delivery of government services,” he also said.
Dismissed were Grifton Medina, Erwin Ortañez, Glennford Comia, Benlado Guevarra, Danieve Binsol, Deon Carlo Albao, Arlan Edward Mendoza, Anthony Lopez, Cecille Jonathan Orozco, Francis Dennis Robles, Bradford Allen So, Vincent Bryan Allas, Rodolfo Magbuhos, ER German Robin, Gabriel Ernest Estacio, Ralph Ryan Garcia, Phol Villanueva, Abdul Fahad Calaca, Danilo Deudor, Mark Macababbad, Aurelio Lucero 3rd, George Bituin, Salahudin Hadjinoor, Cherrypie Ricolcol, Chevy Chase Naniong, Carl Jordan Perez, Abdulhafez Hadjibasher, Jeffrey Dale Ignacio, Clint John Simene, Asliyah Maruhom, Maria Victoria Jogno, Paul Erik Borja, Hamza Pacasum, Manuel Sarmiento 3rd, Fidel Mendoza, Dimple Mahyumi Mallari, Gerrymyle Franco, John Michael Angeles, Francis Meeka Flores, Sadruddin Usudan, John Kessler Cortez, Mohammad Sahary Lomondot, Jon Derrick Go, Aira Inoue, and Rovan Rey Manlapas.
The pastillas scam allowed the illegal entry of Chinese nationals into the country without undergoing background checks in exchange for money.
