AFP forms contingent for military takeover of Customs

AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. has ordered the military leadership to form a contingent for a temporary special duty at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the military said on Monday.

The order came after President Rodrigo Duterte has put the BOC under the control of the military.

The contingent will be coming from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines for such ad interim detail to the bureau, AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo told reporters.

He, however, said the number of military personnel to be deployed were still undetermined.

“Now taking into account the enormity of the challenges that will be facing the bureau, said personnel from the AFP should be of unquestionable integrity, good refute, of known competency and professionalism,” he added.

He also could not say how long would the soldiers be in temporary control of the BOC.

“Depende kay Commissioner Guerrero kung gaano katagal niyang kakailanganin ang serbisyo, but definitely it will be a temporary basis,” he said.

Former AFP chief and Maritime Industry Authority administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero was recently named as Customs chief, replacing Isidro Lapena who was moved to Technical Education and Skills Development Authority amid a multi-million peso drug controversy.

Duterte said the BOC employees will be placed on floating status and will report directly to the Office of the President.

Arevalo deferred comments to the President’s spokesperson when asked if it was constitutional that the military was taking over civilian tasks.

“As the Bureau of Customs is in extraordinary times, this would require extraordinary contingency measures and approaches,” he said./ac

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