THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of 45 officials and employees of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) implicated in the "pastillas" scheme. The Ombudsman found them liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Nevertheless, all the accessory penalties of dismissal from the service shall apply," a consolidated decision signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on May 27, 2022 said. On June 6, 2022, the Office of the Ombudsman filed a graft complaint before the Sandiganbayan against former BI deputy commissioner Marc Red Mariñas and other individuals in connection with the pastillas scheme. On Monday, acting spokesman and Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar said the Ombudsman indictment proves that "there are no sacred cows in the Duterte administration."

Source: Manila Times June 14, 2022 12:42 UTC