BI warns vs. online scam offering speedy release of PH entry visas COA flags P9.8-m promo expenses by DOT agency

By Vito Barcelo

THE Bureau of Immigration

(BI) has warned foreigners against online scams offering facilitation of Philippine entry visas.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals (CA) convicted an immigration official and five employees as administratively liable for their part in the so-called “pastillas” bribery mess.

In raising the warning, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco cited

Kangkong

DIPLOMACY?

multiple reports about foreign nationals being offered Philippine entry visas for as much as P20,000.

“We have received information that these unscrupulous individuals offer their services in securing visas, and issue orders purportedly coming from the BI,” Tansingco said.

Tansingco said the scammers used the BI logo, and represented themselves as personnel of the Philippine Consulate in Australia.

Citing an incident, Tansingco said the scammers instructed an applicant to pay, via money transfer, for their services. “That is a major red flag that’s why the applicant reported the incident to us,” he said. “We have close coordination with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordi- nating Center (CICC), and these kinds of online scams are considered cybercrime,” he stressed.

He urged to the public to report such incidents. “Do not deal with these scammers. If you encounter similar modus online, report it immediately to the BI and other law enforcement agencies,” the BI chief said.

The CA’s Fifth Division affirmed the Ombudsman’s March 21, 2022 decision convicting the respondents for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the service.

The appellate court denied the appeal of BI Travel Control and Enforcement Unit members Chevy Chase Naniong, Deon Albao, Daniel Binsol, and Fidel Mendoza, who controlled and managed

By Rio N. Araja

THE government has disbursed more than P2.4 million in agricultural assistance to residents affected by the continuing unrest of Mayon Volcano in Albay, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Wednesday said there was an increase in Mayon Volcano’s activity manifested by a repetitive pulse tremor since July 3.

In its latest bulletin, the DA said P1.25 million worth of drugs, biologics, and feeds were provided for the evacuated animals, as well as regular livestock health monitoring and disease surveillance to safeguard the wellbeing and health of the animals in the affected areas, while at the same time preventing the spread of potentially deadly diseases.

The state also distributed P1.17 million worth of agricultural inputs to the evacuees for the establishment of communal gardens in evacuation sites, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment through the “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers’’ (TUPAD) program.

Meanwhile, Kadiwa stores established near evacuation centers, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and Industry, farmers’ associations, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and local government units recorded total sales of P288,926. Rio N. Araja

SEVERAL motorists plying Cebu South Coastal Road in Cebu City went into a frenzy Tuesday as they hastily collected wads of cash—from a P4 million bundle —that had fallen from a damaged backpack of a money collector.

Police on Wednesday said they managed to recover P2,083,000 out of the total cash that was inside the ruptured backpack.

The incident occurred while the collector, who was riding a motorcycle, was en route to Mandaue City to remit the cash payment from kiosks at the South Road Properties, a GMA TV report said.

The collector said he was about 50 meters away from the scene when a the scheme and had contacts with the involved foreign nationals.

The scam, which was exposed in 2020, involved airport immigration officers who allowed the entry of Chinese passengers and other foreigners without screening by the B) in exchange for bribes.

The bribe money, which reportedly reached as much as P10,000 per passenger, are rolled to look like pastillas, a milk-based soft candy.

The 28-page decision promulgated June 29 and made public Monday also modified the Ombudsman ruling against Grifton Medina, then the acting chief of the Ports Operations Division (POD), who was instead found guilty of simple neglect of duty and ordered suspended for six months.

THE Commission on Audit (COA) has questioned the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism, for the 2022 procurement of promotional materials ostensibly used as giveaways and tokens without supporting documents.

The state auditors directed the TPB to present proof that P9.868 million worth of tokens or giveaways were indeed given to the intended recipients.

In a 2022 audit report, COA it needed the lists of recipients or their equivalents, to verify whether the promotional materials were distributed to the intended recipients or used according to the original purpose.

Several of the documents being sought by COA were listings of recipients, inspection and acceptance report.

Some of the purported give-away items were T-shirts, tote bags, luggage, lanyards, decors, coasters and ball pens.

The TPB gave assurance of its compliance with COA’s recommendation to require project officers to submit proof of distribution of the promo items.

The board claimed however, that in the case of high-level officials or delegates in the tourism industry, it was impractical to ask the recipients to sign an acknowledgement receipt.

“As such they will develop measures to ensure that the distribution of promotional giveaways are substantiated with material and relevant supporting documents,” COA said.

The TBP must refrain from its practice to grant monetary incentives amounting to P7.288 million to its regular personnel under the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence, COA added.