Mangaoang says Lapeña wanted to stay at Customs for ‘money’

Consuelo Marquez / INQUIRER.net

Former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Isidro Lapeña did not want to leave his post and be transferred to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) because of “money,” Customs Deputy Collector Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang claims.

Mangaoang, in an interview with Inquirer on Saturday, revealed that Lapeña’s transfer to Tesda had long been planned but the former BOC commissioner was reluctant to accept the promotion.

“Matagal ko nang alam na ililipat siya sa Tesda. Ilang beses na siya pinatawag, ayaw niya. Bakit ayaw niya? Promotion yan ayaw niya. Siyempre mas maraming pera dito. Ayaw niya he wants to stay in Customs,” she said.

(I have known for a long time that he was being offered in Tesda. He was summoned for so many times but he did not want to. Why would he? It is a promotion but he wouldn’t want to. Of course there are a lot of money here. He does not want to stay in Customs).

Mangaoang, who was also a former chief of the Customs X-ray division, earlier claimed that the four magnetic lifters discovered in Cavite contained 1-ton of shabu smuggled out of the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Lapeña on Oct. 25 as Tesda director general, a rank that carries a Cabinet rank. Lapeña was replaced as Customs commissioner by Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

READ: Lapeña out of Customs but named Tesda chief with Cabinet rank

Meanwhile, Mangaoang said she “elated” after Lapeña had accepted his Tesda promotion as this would somehow ease up on the harassment she has been getting.

“I am elated kasi I hope mababawasan yung harassment na natanggap ko at the same time I’d like to congratulate him that he was promoted,” she said in an interview with the Inquirer on Saturday.

(I am elated because I hope the harassments that I have been receiving would lessen at the same time I’d like to congratulate him that he was promoted.)

“I won’t be a hypocrite. Siyempre hina-hara-harass niya ako ini-intimidate niya ako. Of course, I am happy na nalipat siya and I would like to congratulate him that he was promoted, “(I won’t be a hypocrite. Of course I know he is harassing me, intimidating me. Of course I am happy that he was moved to Tesda and I would like to congratulate him that he was promoted.) she added.

Mangaoang, then reiterated that she will still assist in the investigation of the smuggled illegal drugs despite Lapeña now being out of Customs.

“But that will not stop me from pursuing, assisting and helping from the prosecution on the smuggling of these magnetic lifters. Kesyo wala na siya, (Lapeña) wala na akong gagawin (But that will not stop me from pursuing, assisting and helping from the prosecution on the smuggling of these magnetic lifters. Just because he is gone, I will not do anything anymore.),” she said.

Mangaoang had accused Lapeña of allegedly covering-up for drug syndicates on the smuggling of “shabu” (crystal meth) through the MICP which is now estimated by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to be worth at least P11 billion.  /muf

READ: PDEA chief now says magnetic lifters contained P11B ‘shabu’