MANILA — A defense counsel asked a “pastillas” scam whistleblower whether he is a Chinese spy as the trial of a graft case against former immigration officials continued at the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday.
The questions came during the corss-examination at the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division of state witness Allison Chiong, who exposed the scheme where immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport allegedly took bribes to allow the seamless entry of foreign nationals.
Atty. Rony Garay, counsel of Empire International Travel and Tours’ owner Liya Wu, asked Chiong about his nationality, saying he does not have a Filipino surname.
Chiong replied that his father is a Tausug-Chinese and a Filipino national.
Garay pressed Chiong on whether he can speak Chinese and whether he has ever worked with a foreign government.
Chiong answered in the negative.
Garay also raised Chiong’s use of a spy pen to record videos, which he used to document the alleged scheme.
“Are you a Chinese spy?” Garay asked.
Chiong responded that he is a Filipino and that he bought the spy pen "to expose the 'pastillas' scheme."
The whistleblower said he was bothered by his conscience, compelling him “to put an end” to the bribery scheme.
'ALMOST ALL INVOLVED'
Chiong also testified that most employees on his shift were part of the scheme, with only between two and four people in 100 employees opting out of it.
He said some casino hubs and travel agencies act as liaisons that supply names of...
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