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MANILA, Philippines – The outgoing Commissioner of the Customs Office (BOC), Isidro Lapeña, is preparing his new position as head of TESDA. He advises his successor, Rey Leonardo Guerrero, former head of the armed forces, to introduce better counterintelligence measures, as some of the bureau's staff engage in illegal activities and are determined to block reforms.
Lapeña met Guerrero at his office yesterday to discuss plans for the planned change of direction on Tuesday. Lapeña said he told Guerrero that his management style was "leadership by example."
"There are people (at the BOC) who engage in illegal activities, so he should improve his counterintelligence efforts," he said following his advice to Guerrero, outgoing director of the Maritime Industry Authority.
"We talked about the immediate things he needs to know first, the turnover, and then my plans and programs such as the ones the new commissioner might want to undertake, such as the ones that resulted in good results in terms of revenue collection. encourage more staff to participate in the reform program, "Lapeña said.
Other military officials had held the highest position of the BOC in the past – former General Ramon Farolan, commander of the Air Force, from 1977 to 1986; former naval commander, Guillermo Parayno Jr. from 1992 to 1998; and Navy Captain Nicanor Faeldon from July 2016 to August 2017.
Lapeña was the chief of police in Davao when Duterte was mayor.
The transfer from Lapeña to TESDA took place as part of the controversy surrounding the entry of 1.6 tons of shabu worth some 11 billion pesos in July through the international container port of Manila (MICP). Magnetic lifting devices allegedly pursuing smuggling were found abandoned in a warehouse of General Mariano Alvarez in Cavite.
After denying that an important shipment of drugs had been overtaken by the BOC, Mr. Lapeña later acknowledged that the implementation of the procedures may have failed, hence the need to modernize the procedure. equipment, in particular X-ray equipment.
During a congressional hearing, it was learned that the magnetic lifting devices supposedly used to hide the drug shipment had been modified to prevent X-ray machines from detecting what they contained.
But he added that the issue of magnetic lifts had not been addressed with Guerrero, an investigation being ongoing.
During her 14-month stay at BOC, Lapeña said she was able to reach and even exceed monthly collection goals for eight consecutive months.
Help offered
He also did not discuss with Guerrero, he said, the dismissal of all the deputy commissioners and department heads by President Duterte.
"Of course it's a transition. We will help in the transition. It's important that it starts well. He asked for my help since he is new to the office and he would consult with me from time to time, "he said.
He stressed that there would be no disruption of services despite the change of leadership.
"I am still the Commissioner until today and until we take the oath, the documents sent to me would be processed, especially the payroll," he said. highlighted.
He said that he was grateful to the president for his new work at the firm. "I took it as another opportunity, an honor to serve. Serving our people will be an honor and I will always do my best, "he said.
For the presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Lapeña was the victim of a campaign of defamation perpetrated by drug syndicates and their protectors in the office.
"We maintain that the drug syndicates, together with corrupt officials and office workers, are behind the ongoing smear campaign against Isidro Lapeña," said Panelo.
"Despite the harmful practices that besiege the office, Mr. Lapeña has handled the situation unhindered and has put in place several reform initiatives leading to a substantial increase in revenue collection that has even exceeded the set targets," he said. he declares.
"As we all know, presidential appointments fall under the jurisdiction of the appointing authority, who happens to be the president," he added.
The relocation of Lapeña to TESDA has met with mixed reactions from senators.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Lapeña "will no longer be in the line of fire" with his new position at TESDA.
"What the BOC needs is a complete overhaul," Sotto said.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee, said he regretted that the LOC had been relieved of the BOC. With Lapeña at the helm, the BOC was able to exceed its collection goal, according to Lacson.
He added that the only black mark of the outgoing head of the COB was the smuggling of some 11 billion shabu shubu "due to the apparent collusion" between "some of his people at the lower echelon of the bureau" and drug syndicates. He added that Lapeña's relief showed Duterte's zero tolerance for illicit drugs.
Senator Grace Poe said she could imagine Duterte's frustration with the fight against illicit drugs when she thought Lapeña had no idea what was going on below him.
Lack of responsibility
Senator Joel Villanueva, however, said that the transfer of Lapeña to TESDA seems to indicate a lack of accountability of officials in the administration.
"We will not be able to solve our drug problem if we do not want to reduce the supply of drugs. Tons of drugs came into the country under their watch. They should be held accountable and not promoted, "he said.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV questioned the motive of Duterte for the transfer of Lapeña.
"If he (Lapeña) failed or got in trouble with those who smuggled the drug, why is he (Duterte) promoting it?" Said Trillanes.
He added that the only possible explanation was that Duterte rewarded Lapeña for his "loyalty and guaranteed his silence and continued cooperation, in the image of what he had done to the former customs commissioner. Nicanor Faeldon ".
He said Faeldon and Lapeña both knew the "real brains" of huge drug shipments.
Senator Francis Pangilinan warned that "when incompetence or corruption will go unpunished and that people related to irregularities will be rewarded by other positions at the highest level, incompetence and corruption will will make it worse. "
"He (Lapeña's promotion) also questions the sincerity and seriousness of the administration in his campaigns against corruption and illegal drugs," said Pangilinan. – With Paolo Romero, Christina Mendez
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