Risa: Did BI exec linked to 'Pastillas scam' help Alice Guo escape?

Did an immigration official linked to the controversial 'Pastillas' extortion scheme help dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo escape from the Philippines?

Senator Risa Hontiveros floated this possibility during the continuation of the Senate justice and human rights subcommittee's investigation into Guo and her companions' supposed escape from the country.

In her interpellation with Bureau of Immigration (BI) Intelligence Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr., Hontiveros questioned the designation of Vincent Bryan Allas as the acting chief of the BI Control and Intelligence Unit (BICU).

According to Hontiveros, BICU is tasked to perform intelligence and counterintelligence duties to strengthen the operational capability of all international ports of entry and exit (IPEE).

The BICU is the border control component that supports and assists those IPEEs in the provision of security and escort to transit or transfer or intercept travelers in general, turn over of persons of interest to appropriate law enforcement agencies or facilities including inadmissible aliens, and other concerns requiring traveler restraint, investigation, temporary safekeeping and other security matters, she added.

Manahan agreed with the senator that the BICU has "important and sensitive" duties.

BICU head linked to 'pastillas'

Hontiveros then noted that Allas was found by the Office of the Ombudsman "administratively liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service."

The solon likewise noted that Allas was dismissed from service in relation to his involvement in the "Pastillas" extortion scheme and he is facing graft cases before the Sandiganbayan.

"Paano po nangyari na ginawa pa siyang head ng BICU? Hindi kaya ito ay puno't dulo ng problemang iniimbestiga namin at dapat niyong ayusin sa side ng executive?" Hontiveros asked.

(How did he end up being appointed as the head of BICU? Isn't this the root of the problem we're investigating and something the Executive Branch should fix on your end?)

"Sa dinami-dami ng mga Pilipino na pwedeng gumanap ng mga tungkulin ng BI at ng mga sensitibong parte niya katulad ng BICU, ang pina-in charge pa sa borders natin ay isang tao na inakusahan ng korapsyon. Couldnt the BI have done better?" she went on.

(Of all the Filipinos who can take on the responsibilities of the Bureau of Immigration and its sensitive components like the Border Intelligence and Coordination Unit (BICU), it's surprising that the person in charge of our borders is someone accused of corruption. Couldn't the BI have done better?)

Responding to Hontiveros, Manahan said Allas is "performing well" since he assumed his post and his designation was based on the order of the BI commissioner.

Still, Hontiveros said that these are "very, very strange and unacceptable situations," especially in the context of Guo's escape.

According to Manahan, the BI is conducting an internal investigation on possible corruption in relation to the supposed escape of Guo and others in her circle.

The Immigration official said they are "considering" the possibility that there are some BI personnel or officials who accepted payments in exchange for Guo's exit.

In the previous hearing, Hontiveros mentioned information that Guo and her companions supposedly paid P200 million to be able to leave the Philippines.

In her closing statement, Hontiveros hinted at the possibility of another case of "pastillas" scam.

"Pastillas Part 2 ba ito, kaya nakatakas si Alice? Jumbo pastillas na siguro ito ano?" Hontiveros said.

—RF, GMA Integrated News