Sacked BI official reappears as acting chief amid pastillas bribery scheme controversy

A DISMISSED Bureau of Immigration (BI) official, Vincent Bryan Allas, who was implicated in the pastillas bribery scheme, has been reappointed as acting chief of the BI’s Border Control and Intelligence Unit (BCIU).

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco justified the reappointment, stating that Allas’ case was dismissed by the Court of Appeals (CA) in January, making him eligible for positions within the bureau.

Allas was found liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service in 2022 by the Ombudsman due to his alleged involvement in the pastillas bribery scheme. This scheme, exposed in 2020, involved BI officers accepting bribes of P10,000 to facilitate the entry of foreigners, primarily Chinese nationals.

Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed concern about Allas’ reappointment during a Senate hearing on September 5. In response, Tansingco acknowledged the gravity of the past incidents but emphasized the importance of due process. He explained that since Allas’ case was dismissed by the CA, he remains eligible for positions within the bureau.

Regarding whether Allas aided dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo in leaving the country, Tansingco clarified that the BCIU focuses on intelligence gathering and is not involved in immigration processing at ports and airports.

This reappointment has sparked controversy, raising concerns about the BI’s commitment to combating corruption and ensuring the integrity of its operations. The public remains divided on the issue, with some questioning the rationale behind reinstating an official implicated in a high-profile bribery scheme.