Lapeña says drug syndicates may be behind hatchet job against him

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said on Tuesday that he suspects that drug syndicates may be behind the demolition job against him.

Lapeña said he also suspects that his accuser, Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang, is being used by the drug syndicates to divert attention from the main issue.

Mangaoang has tagged Lapeña in the cover-up of the smuggling of the estimated P6.8 billion worth of “shabu” (crystal meth).

READ: Customs exec: Early info on ‘shabu’ smuggling ignored

“This issue against us is being manipulated by the drug syndicates in order that it will be diverted away from them. Isn’t it that we should focus on pinning them down?” Lapeña said in a press briefing.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña. Photo by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

“She (Mangaoang) could be also being utilized for that unwittingly or wittingly,” Lapeña added when asked whether it is possible that Mangaoang is being used by drug syndicates.

Lapeña said that the drug syndicates are experts in media spinning and propaganda.

“Remember that these syndicates are not only experts in hiding contrabands, they are also experts in media spinning and propaganda. For all we know, this bickering is already part of their machinations,” Lapeña said.

“If you observe what is happening now, these are highly-managed propaganda against the Bureau of Customs and me,” Lapeña added.

Lapeña then told his critics that they should instead focus on dismantling the drug syndicates instead of attacking him and the Bureau of Customs (BoC).

“This should be the focus of our energy, dapat ito ang effort, hindi iyong blame game. We have a serious problem on this, and this should be the effort,” Lapeña said in a press briefing.

When asked if the ultimate goal of these efforts to pin the blame on him is to remove him from office, Lapeña said it’s possible because the projects that he has started at the agency to stop corruption is hurting them.

“Right now, I am hurting them — the drug syndicates. And I stand firm on this whatever it takes,” Lapeña said. /ee