By Nancy Carvajal

Chinese nationals pay Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel as much as P300,000 to enter the Philippines and stay indefinitely even without the necessary visa, Politiko has found.

A source told Politiko that the alleged bribe for BI officers has jumped from the previous P45,000 due to the recent ban imposed on the entry of travelers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau amid the threat of the 2019 novel coronavirus.

Politiko’s source said the modus involves a “pre-arranged transaction” between the BI officer and the Chinese national or the group representing him.

“The foreigner’s passport is stamped, but his entry is not recorded in the computer or immigration database,’’ the source explained.

Politiko’s source said some migrant Filipino workers also pay off BI personnel to return to their work in Kuwait despite a deployment ban.

Aiming to put a stop to the racket, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered National Bureau of Investigation to probe and charge BI personnel who receive bribes.

“The NBI is hereby directed and granted authority to conduct an investigation on the alleged involvement of BI officials and personnel in human trafficking activities and escort services,’’ Guevarra said in a department order dated January 22, 2020.

The NBI is expected to submit the result of their investigation within 30 days.