Customs deputy on floating status; 'Cleansing' begins

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña on Monday sacked the deputy collector who accused Customs officials of the P6.8 Billion worth of shabu through four magnetic lifters.

Customs deputy collector Lourdes Mangaoang, the former X-ray division chief, was put on floating status, allegedly for underperformance.

Customs spokesman Erastus Austria denied she was moved to silence and she was moving because of the "ongoing internal cleansing of corrupt Customs officials."

However, a NAIA-BOC official, who requested anonymity said that Mangaoang was doing its job since the Ninoy Aquino International Airport where it was posted BOC ports that exceeded its P3.587 billion in September this year.

Mangaoang said his assignment at the airport was too short for an evaluation, saying it only at the NAIA on Aug. 27.

She said her removal was a warning to stop her from testifying against Lapeña or "worse will come."

But Austria said Lapeña removed Mangaoang 11 days before she testified before the Blue Ribbon Committee.

In her testiomny, Managaoang insisted that the cavity does not exist. Cavite contained illegal drugs, contrary to Lapeña's assertion that they did not.

  Aside from removing Mangaoang from her post, Lapeña also ordered a lifestyle check on her.

"Our internal cleansing and anti-corruption efforts must be made to be more effective," Lapeña added.

The Palace said Monday that Rodrigo Duterte's President still trusts Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino and Lapeña, who have been at odds over the smuggled shabu.

"He still trusts the two," Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

Panelo also said the Palace would await the results of an investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Aquino has been adamant that the four magnetic lifters have been in the market. Lapeña insists no drugs were inside the lifters.