SEN. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros on Tuesday said some travel agencies help Chinese with criminal records to enter the Philippines for a fee. On Monday, she said travel agencies offer manufactured passports, birth certificates and drivers’ licenses, and provide “pastille” services to Chinese entering the Philippines. Tour operators allegedly receive a portion of the service fee under the pastillas scam, which is divided among immigration officers, airport terminal heads and BI supervisors. These Chinese nationals are even assisted by our own corrupt local registry officials,” Hontiveros said. “The NBI investigation covers two broad areas, namely human trafficking (outbound) and escort services (inbound, which include the pastillas scandal),” Guevarra said.

Source: Manila Times March 03, 2020 16:59 UTC