BOC civilian posts – Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday defended his decision to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) under the name of "under the law of corruption".

Speaking about illegal drugs and the national security situation in Malacañang, the President said he did not order the military to take over the functions of the BOC employees and that he did not back up the 1987 Constitution.

"When I called in the Army to help the BOC, there was no designation, there was no appointment and there was never any instruction for them to take over the functions of the employees," he said.

'Floating status'

The President said the only ones he was on "floating status" were the chiefs of offices and section chiefs.

The employees in those offices and sections would continue working, he said.

The President has a temporary military takeover of the BOC last month amid scandal involving the smuggling into the country of "shabu" (crystal meth) worth P11 billion through Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

The President reassigned the Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, a Cabinet post, and replaced him with Rey Leonardo Guerrero, to form chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Lapeña was removed from the BOC after having been smuggled through MICT.

But results of a reexamination by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)

Last year, shabu worth P6.4 trillion also slipped past the BOC at the Port of Manila, setting a congressional investigation that pressured Lapeña's predecessor in the agency, to form Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon, to resign.

In his speech on Tuesday, the president said the smuggling of illegal drugs in the country had been raised to the level of national security threat.

"Every administration, there's always a shipment of drugs. But these ex-military men, because I trust them, the problem is the expedition slipped past them, "the President said, referring to Faeldon and Lapeña, to form official police.

He said the uncontrolled smuggling of drugs through the ports was a law and order problem.

"That is part of the law and order situation. It has nothing to do with appointment or appointment of any person. I'm just trying to control crime, "the President said.

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