64 Customs personnel on Duterte’s chopping block

President Rodrigo Duterte FILE PHOTO/ RTVM

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday announced that he will fire 64 Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel over allegations of corruption.

“I will be dismissing something like 64 Customs officials,” Duterte said during the signing ceremony of the loan agreement for Malolos-Clark railway project.

Duterte said he would summon the officials in Malacañang to hear their side.

“In the meantime that the cases are being heard, in obedience with the rule of the right to be heard, I want [them] to be here in Malacanang,” he said.

The President also said that the firing of the officials and employees accounts to a third of the corruption problem in the revenue-collecting agency.

According to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, the corruption complaint against the personnel was brought to the attention of BOC chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

Though he first said that the Customs employees would face charges, the President later said in his speech that they might be spared if they resign.

But in an interview with reporters after the event, Duterte said the Ombudsman might still go after those employees who would step down./ac