The ‘Pastillas’ scheme, which allegedly smuggled foreign workers into the Philippines for the purpose of working at Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators (POGOs), has now reached the point where arrests are being made. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has asked for 19 immigration officers to be prosecuted for their alleged corruption.

NBI Special Action Unit chief Emeterio Dongallo Jr. also asked for the officers to be suspended in the meantime, to prevent any interference into upcoming investigations. Along with the 19 Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials, Liya Wu, owner of Empire International Travel and Tours will also face prosecution for corrupting public officials.

The BI were happy to have this proceed to court, nothing this would give their officers an “opportunity to defend themselves in the proper forum.” They added: “We are one with the campaign of the government to get rid of corruption and make those erring personnel accountable before the court of law.”

The charge is specifically a violation of the antigraft law, the NBI wrote to the Officer of the Ombudsman. This scheme was revealed in early 2020, with one whistleblower testifying in front of the Senate that POGOs paid P10,000 ($210) to BI officials for each employee allowed into the country, regardless of their official paperword.