Forty-five Philippine immigration officers were expelled for airport "security!

The Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of 45 Immigration Department staff for alleged administrative violations related to the Candy Scheme (commonly known as the Customs Protection), which allows Chinese citizens to enter the country illegally.

In a 143-page comprehensive decision, the Ombudsman found the officers "administratively liable for serious misconduct that was detrimental to the best interests of the service".

It also noted that persons who had been discharged from public office prior to the decision would be fined the equivalent of one year's salary.

The Ombud also dismissed the charges against 40 Customs Service officers for lack of substantive evidence and the charges against five others for lack of jurisdiction.

The agency earlier filed corruption charges against 42 immigration officers suspected of being involved in the candy program, noting that the then Deputy Commissioner for Port Operations, Mark. Ma Renyingsi conspired with other immigration officers.

It is said that Ma Renying and a certain International Travel and Tours conspired to "deliberately and illegally provide unreasonable benefits, preferences or advantages to foreign passengers, especially Chinese citizens".

It is said that the gang allegedly violated the Anti-Corruption Law by charging each passenger a 10,000 of 1.43 million pesos.

Government prosecutors said Ma Renyingsi and his team were responsible for managing inbound passengers and distributing commissions to other participants in the scheme.