Immigration Official New Modus Replaced to “Pastillas Scam” Arrested

Immigration Official Arrested After New Modus Replaced to “Pastillas Scam” Discovered

New modus operandi replaced to previous “Pastillas Scam” made by an immigration official discovered by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

NBI operatives arrested an accredited liaison officer after conducting an entrapment operation in an office of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for charging large sums of money to Chinese nationals who wanted to enter the country.

Immigration Official
Image Source: ABS-CBN News

According to the report of ABS-CBN News, the suspect, Vivian Lara, an official of the BI was found inside the office of BI Prosecutor Atty. Arnulfo Maminta. There she was arrested.

She received a bag containing P900,000 allegedly paid for the visa and passport processing of three Chinese nationals who were illegally entering the country where he also signed a receiving copy.

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Lara is said to be an employee of a law office that helps process Chinese national documents with a travel agency. When asked why she was in Maminta’s office, the suspect said she only took something from the said office.

Immigration New Modus

The suspect also said that she had no accomplice in BI. She also allegedly had nothing to do with the transaction fee of P550,000 per Chinese national.

NBI Task Force Chief Gerald Geralde said that this is now the new modus operandi for the entry of Chinese nationals into the country after the “pastillas scam” at the airport was opened and stopped.

“Upon arrival, pina-process na ang kanilang visa pero this time prior sa kanilang travel from China ay inaayos na dto sa imigration ang kanilang travel documents para pagdating nila ipapasa nalang nila sa airport,” said Geralde.

The new modus operandi bust was initiated by the NBI in December after they received information that corruption in the agency was still ongoing. At the Calalang law office, Lara was not their employee and they had nothing to do with her transaction.

The NBI also explains to BI why their office is allowed to be used for illegal transactions. BI will have its own investigation of their employees as well as their accredited law office.

BI also stressed that they do not allow this mode. The NBI is also set to summon the travel agency that is the suspect’s accomplice.

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