Erring Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel who were tagged behind the controversial “pastillas” scheme showed up in Malacañang where President Rodrigo Duterte dared them to eat peso notes rolled up to look like “pastillas”, a sweet Filipino delicacy.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who has jurisdiction over the said agency, said that 40 of its personnel suspended by the Ombudsman over alleged involvement in the pastillas scheme were summoned by Duterte in Malacanang.
The DOJ chief said that the President subjected them to a dare — to “eat” money rolled up in pastillas.
“During the short meeting, he distributed pastillas to the BI personnel. Money had been rolled inside each pastillas, according to the President. He wanted them to eat the pastillas, but did not insist ‘out of deference to the Secretary of Justice who was also present,’” Guevarra said.
“He said, ‘Either you eat it or give it to the first beggar you see.’ In the end, he stated that the cases had been filed and that they simply had to face them. No one among the BI personnel dared to utter a word,” he added.
Among those in attendance is Red Mariñas, a former BI Port Operations Division chief, who has repeatedly denied involvement in the pastillas scheme.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recently recommended to the Ombudsman the filing of criminal and administrative charges against 86 personalities who are allegedly involved in this issue.