Senate to recommend Mangaoang under WPP due to death threats

The Senate will recommend the inclusion of Customs Deputy Collector Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the government amid receiving death threats.

Senate blue ribbon committee chair Senator Richard Gordon said this on Tuesday after Mangaoang admitted that she had been receiving threats after attesting that the four magnetic lifters found in Cavite contained shabu.

“I’m getting calls your honor… warning me that may grupo nga pong galit na galit sa akin. Actually sinasabihan po akong ‘wag na raw po akong magpa-interview kasi galit na galit na nga po sa akin. Kaya ayaw ko na rin pong magpa-interview,” Mangaoang said at the continuation of the Senate blue ribbon committee inquiry into the alleged smuggling of P6.8-billion worth of shabu into the country.

The Customs official said she already submitted an application for WPP to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.

Customs Deputy Collector Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang. INQUIRER.net photo / CATHY MIRANDA

READ: Mangaoang wants to be placed under WPP | Guevarra: DOJ may consider placing Mangaoang under gov’t protection

Gordon then said they would recommend her placement under the WPP.

“We can do that for you with the permission of (Senate President) Senator (Vicente) Sotto III and myself. We can recommend it to the Secretary of Justice,” he told Mangaoang who thanked him in return.

READ: Solons question credibility of Customs whistleblower

Mangaoang had been accusing former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Isidro Lapeña of “covering-up” for drug syndicates over the entry of more than 1-ton of shabu worth P6.8 billion into the country in August, while she and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Chief Aaron Aquino were insisting that the magnetic lifters found in Cavite contained illegal drugs.

READ: Customs official denies involvement with drug syndicates | PDEA chief now says magnetic lifters contained P11B ‘shabu’ 

In a House inquiry on the same issue, however, Lapeña finally gave in and said he now believes that the four magnetic lifters contained shabu.

READ: Lapeña backpedals, now thinks magnetic lifters contained ‘shabu’ | Lapeña flip-flops on smuggled drugs issue; Duterte orders Guban’s arrest

Following the controversy, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the transfer of Lapeña from the embattled agency to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda). /jpv

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

READ: Duterte defends Lapeña, Faeldon amid ‘shabu’ controversy: ‘Nalusutan lang’