Duterte says Lapeña man of integrity; hits deeply corrupt Customs

President Rodrigo Duterte. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / RENE LUMAWAG

DAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday defended former Customs director Isidro Lapeña over the latter’s apparent failure to stop the entry of illegal drugs to the country, saying corruption in the bureau runs deep into its flawed system regardless of who would take its helm.

In a speech during the birthday celebration for former Foreign Affairs Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano at the Marco Polo hotel here, Duterte said corruption had historically affected even the lower echelons of the ports collection agency, which resulted to the slippage of imported illegal drugs into the country.

“Historically, the Customs, even before, had always been the one on the better level of things, nice houses, cars, that used to be the case,” Duterte said. “But you know the Philippine system really allows corruption and plenty have wallowed in the money of the public,” he added.

Duterte maintained that Lapeña, who led the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency before becoming Customs chief, and Faeldon, a former Navy captain who staged a mutiny against the presidency of now-Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2007, were honest and with integrity when they headed the BoC.

“There is nothing wrong with the men that I have chosen to be in this ship right now. They are all men of integrity, I assure you,” Duterte said.

He called Lapeña, whose police stint included assignments in Davao City and in Southern Mindanao, a “friend” and that Lapeña’s failure was the President’s, too.

“I know him and I will not abandon a friend. He’s not a corrupt person,” Duterte said.

Last week he removed the former police general as Customs commissioner and promoted him to head the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, a move that angered several lawmakers and administration critics.

Rey Leonardo Guerrero, the retired Armed Forces chief who headed the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) replaced Lapena at the BoC.

Duterte insisted he was not covering up anything when he promoted Lapeña as he even ordered the arrest of several former officials allegedly involved in the P11-billion shabu shipment.

Duterte said he ordered the arrest of former PDEA director Ismael Fajardo Jr. and the investigation on former police Supt. Eduardo Acierto.

“In the meantime, we are sorting out how we will meet the challenges of corruption,” Duterte said, adding he has ordered placed in floating status all Customs officers at the Manila International Container Port where the alleged shabu stashed in two magnetic lifters slipped through.

The president said it was an embarrassment that illegal drugs slipped past the BoC. He said corrupt officials were the “lawless elements” within the collection bureau.

“The system was already there,” he said.

The President said he would put technical personnel from the different branches of the armed forces to take the place of the Customs personnel and ordered Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to ask the suppliers of the X-ray machines to conduct a training to the military men on the X-ray scanners.

As an added safeguard, Duterte said he would order the designation of three persons who would sign the clearance of a cargo before it could be moved out of the BoC. /cbb