Lapeña out of Customs but named Tesda chief with Cabinet rank

 Isidro Lapeña JOAN BONDOC

Update

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña will be the next Director-General of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Thursday.

“Si General Lapeña will move to Tesda. I will promote you to a Cabinet member position,” Duterte said in a speech during the anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard.

Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero, meanwhile, will lead the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Duterte added.

Lapeña has been under heavy criticisms because of the P11-billion worth of shabu that was allegedly smuggled inside the country in August. However, Malacañang said Lapeña still has the “full trust and confidence” of the President.

Duterte went on to warn Lapeña that handling Tesda could be “messy at times” but he said he believes Lapeña’s training as a military man will serve him well.

“Sid, [Lapeña] ‘yung trabaho ng Tesda is quite something of… it could be messy at times, but I’m sure your training as a military man just like Jagger [Guerrero] would go well for the country,” he said.

“That’s the reason why I said time and again. I have nothing against the bureaucracy, pero pag gusto mong, if you want something done and done fast per your order, you get a military man,” he added.

Duterte noted that he would soon appoint a retired military officer to replace Guerrero in Marina.