Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

(L-R) Mr. Grifton Medina of the Port Operations Division of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, BI Deputy Commissioner Atty. Tobias Javier, Chief Immigration Regulation Division of the BI Mr. Rogelio Gevero, BI Head of Legal, Atty. Arvin Santos, BI Intelligence Division Mr. Fortunato Manahan attend the hearing on the alleged sex trafficking activities in the Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators (POGO) industry at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on February 20, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Daniza Fernandez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178832795776120200220-senate-hearing-pogo-GC-0303.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="(L-R) Mr. Grifton Medina of the Port Operations Division of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, BI Deputy Commissioner Atty. Tobias Javier, Chief Immigration Regulation Division of the BI Mr. Rogelio Gevero, BI Head of Legal, Atty. Arvin Santos, BI Intelligence Division Mr. Fortunato Manahan attend the hearing on the alleged sex trafficking activities in the Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators (POGO) industry at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on February 20, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">(L-R) Mr. Grifton Medina of the Port Operations Division of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, BI Deputy Commissioner Atty. Tobias Javier, Chief Immigration Regulation Division of the BI Mr. Rogelio Gevero, BI Head of Legal, Atty. Arvin Santos, BI Intelligence Division Mr. Fortunato Manahan attend the hearing on the alleged sex trafficking activities in the Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators (POGO) industry at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on February 20, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">MANILA — Former Bureau of Immigration (BI) official Grifton Medina was not among the bosses in the “pastillas” bribery scheme, whistleblower Allison Chiong said on Wednesday.</p><p>Medina, former BI Port Operations Division chief, has been tagged in the scheme where Chinese nationals were a seamless entry into the Philippines in exchange of P10,000.</p><p>The bribe money was alllegedly rolled in paper just like a pastillas.</p><p>During the Sandiganbayan 7th Division’s graft trial, Medina&#x27;s counsel cross-eamined Chiong, who was on the “frontlines” of the “pastillas” operations.</p><p>The counsel asked Chiong whether or not Medina was among the bosses in the “pastillas” operations or if he was a “Chinese supplier.” Chiong said he was not.</p><p>The witness added that Medina was not a member of any group chats that discuss “pastillas” operations and that he has no information if the formal official accepted money from the scheme.</p><p>Chiong, however, said Medina was aware of the operations since he took over the position of Marc Red Marinas, who is also facing the graft charge.</p><p>Meanwhile, Chiong tagged former officials Erwin Ortanez, Anthony Lopez, and Francis Dennis Robles as “bosses” of the scheme.</p><p>He said the three supplied the names of the Chinese nationals who will provide “pastillas” money. This can be proved through screenshots, Chiong said.</p><p>Upon the cross-examination by the counsel of the three, Chiong said he has no documentary evidence to show that they received “pastillas” money.</p><p>The trial will resume on September 16.</p><p>The “pastillas” scam was exposed in 2020, the time when there was an influx of Chinese nationals in the Philippines. Several have been tied to criminal activity such as abductions and working without a necessary permit.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED STORIES</strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/07/04/23/ca-affirms-dismissal-of-bi-personnel-over-pastillas-scam">CA affirms Ombudsman’s dismissal of 4 Immigration personnel over pastillas scam</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/06/10/22/18-immigration-personnel-dismissed-over-pastillas-scam">18 immigration personnel in &#x27;pastillas&#x27; scheme dismissed from service</a></div>

<p>Former Bureau of Immigration (BI) official Grifton Medina was not among the bosses in the “pastillas” scam, whistleblower Allison Chiong said on Wednesday.</p>

Former Bureau of Immigration (BI) official Grifton Medina was not among the bosses in the “pastillas” scam, whistleblower Allison Chiong said on Wednesday.

Whistleblower: Ex-BI official Grifton Medina not among the bosses in ‘pastillas’ scheme

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Whistleblower: Ex-BI official Grifton Medina not among the bosses in ‘pastillas’ scheme

Daniza Fernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 02, 2026 01:52 PM PHT

Read More:

Sandiganbayan

Allison Chiong

pastillas scam

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