Pangilinan doubts war on drugs with appointment of sacked MICP collector

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Francis Pangilinan on Thursday cast doubts on the seriousness and sincerity of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs following the appointment of former Manila International Container Port (MICP) district collector Vener Baquiran’s appointment as Bureau of Customs deputy commissioner.

Baquiran was relieved from his post in 2018 after the discovery of a huge shabu shipment at the MICP.

READ: Sacked district collector, 2 ex-AFP officers appointed as BOC deputy chiefs

READ: MICP collector relieved over ‘shabu’ shipment

“This recycling of removed government officials places doubt as to the seriousness and sincerity of this administration’s campaign against illegal drugs,” Pangilinan said in a statement.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier assailed the appointment of Baquiran to a higher post.

He pointed out that Baquiran was identified as one of the “bagmen” in the long list of BOC personnel allegedly receiving payola – also known as “tara” – from big players at Customs.

Baquiran,  Lacson said, was also the subject of investigations by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Department of Justice (DOJ), which even recommended the filing of charges against the recently appointed BOC official.

“How can the Bureau thoroughly and sincerely address the country’s drug problem if instead of punishing the corrupt or incompetent, or both, this administration is even rewarding these people with other positions in government?,” Lacson said in a privilege speech Wednesday. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)

READ: Lacson blasts appointment of sacked BOC district collector to higher post