Military to stay at BOC until Duterte is satisfied — Palace

Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

The takeover of military personnel at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will last until President Rodrigo Duterte is satisfied, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement after Duterte announced that the Armed Forces of the Philippines would be taking over the operations of the BOC temporarily due to unmitigated corruption at the agency.

Asked how long Duterte’s order would take effect, Panelo said it will stand until “it is necessary” and until the President is satisfied with the BOC’s performance.

“Until it is necessary, until the President is satisfied that everything is in order at that bureau,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Panelo also defended Duterte’s order, claiming that as Chief Executive, he has control over all executive offices including the BOC.

He then stressed that as Commander-in-Chief of the military, Duterte is authorized to direct the movements of the members of the AFP in any manner that he deems it fit.

“The Constitution provides that the President is the head of the gov’t, the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the AFP. Now the Constitution also provides that he has control over all executive offices and BOC is one of them,” Panelo said.

“Now with respect to being the commander-in-chief, he is authorized under the law to direct the movements of the members of the AFP in any manner that he deems it fit,” he added.

Panelo noted that Malacañang will issue the proper issuance shortly to make Duterte’s order official.

READ: Duterte puts Customs under military control

The BOC has been under fire due to the alleged smuggling of P11 billion worth of shabu that supposedly slipped through security screening. /je