THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is set to probe the alleged massive pay-offs at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in relation to the arrest of more than 1,316 undocumented Chinese nationals last November 24 in Clark, Pampanga.
"I have tasked the NBI to probe for the truth behind these allegations," Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said in a statement on Sunday.
Aguirre said the Department of Justice will continue to pursue the marching orders of President Rodrigo Duterte to rid corruption in their ranks.
"President Duterte's marching orders to us is very clear—absolutely no corruption, This mandate will be relentlessly pursued," he said.
Aguirre earlier said he had received reports that some of the undocumented Chinese nationals were allowed by some BI officials to escape in exchange for bribes.
The foreign nationals employed to operate in the unlicensed online gaming business owned by gaming tycoon Jack Lam were arrested in an operation conducted by the NBI and the Philippine National Police last November 24.
The arrest is considered as the biggest operation against undocumented foreign nationals in the country's history.
Duterte earlier ordered the arrest of Lam for bribery and economic sabotage for allegedly bribing Aguirre and Pagcor chair Andrea Domingo in relation to the arrest of the Chinese nationals working at his illegal online gaming business.
Lam, with a Chinese name Lam Yin Lok, has not yet returned to the country after he departed on November 29 onboard a Cathay Pacific flight to Hongkong. (Sunnex)
