MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned why a dismissed official of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) now heads the agency’s border control and intelligence unit.

During the hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Justice and Human Rights on Thursday, Hontiveros said the said unit’s acting chief is Vincent Bryan Allas who was found "administratively liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service” in 2022 because of the “pastillas” scam.

In the said scam, BI officials were found to have received bribes to allow foreign nationals into the country.

Ombudsman OKs graft charges vs Immigration officials tagged in 'pastillas' scheme

“There are also graft cases filed against him in the Sandiganbayan. So paano po nangyari na ginawa pa siyang head ng BICU?” Hontiveros asked.

“Hindi kaya ito ay puno't dulo ng problemang iniimbestiga namin at dapat niyong ayusin sa side ng executive? Na sa dinami-dami ng mga Pilipino na puwedeng gumanap ng mga tungkulin ng BI at ng mga sensitibong parte niya katulad ng BICU, ang pinaka-in charge pa sa borders natin ay isang tao na inakusahan ng korupsiyon. Couldnt the BI have done better?” Hontiveros pointed out.

Fortunato Manahan, Jr., chief of the BI intelligence Division, said he is “not very particular with the case”.

“It depends on the order of the Commissioner, Madam Chair,” Manahan responded.

Asked if BI is investigating its own personnel in relation to how former Mayor Alice Guo escaped the country, Manahan said, “Rest assured na if there will be any personnel involvement from BI, administrative and criminal sanctions will be in place.”

Manahan added that they are also looking into a certain amount that may have been used by Guo to leave the country. 

He did not mention how much, but in a previous hearing, Hontiveros said Guo might have paid P200 million for her to be able to leave.