Ask Duterte for ‘blanket authority,’ Lacson tells BOC chief

MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero should ask President Rodrigo Duterte for “blanket authority” to combat alleged corruption in the agency, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Thursday.

“Ang isang advice na bigay ko kay Commissioner Guerrero noon nang nagsadya sa opisina, dapat humingi siya ng blanket authority sa Pangulo maski tatlong buwan para i-prove ang kanyang worth,” Lacson said in an interview over dzMM.

During the State of the Nation Address (Sona), Duterte praised BOC for collecting P585 billion in 2018, but said the “corruption-ridden” agency could have collected more if it had been clean.

READ: Duterte praises ‘corruption-ridden’ BOC for collecting P585-B

Duterte also recently relieved 64 Customs employees over corruption allegations.

READ: 64 Customs personnel on Duterte’s chopping block

“Pero at the outset dapat hiningi niya blanket authority na huwag siya pakikialaman sa pagpili ng tao, para makita kasi basic ‘yan sa leadership training. ‘Pag binigyan ka ng responsibility, kailangan may commensurate authority,” Lacson pointed out.

“‘Pag kinapos ka sa authority at ‘di sapat sa responsibility na hinahawakan mo, sure formula for failure ‘yan. Hindi ka susundin ng tauhan mo maski deputy mo pa siya o maski tauhan mo,” he added.

However, Lacson emphasized he is not trying to interfere with the President’s prerogative to appoint but stressed the need to give full authority to Guerrero.

“‘Di natin pinaghihimasukan ang prerogative ng Pangulo para mag-appoint dahil may presidential appointees na siya lang ang talagang may power,” Lacson said.

“Pero kung hindi mo bibigyan ng sapat na authority lalo ang BOC commissioner, kung naniniwala ka at narinig natin binanggit niya sa kanyang Sona buo ang tiwala niya kay Commissioner Guerrero. Pero kung buo ang tiwala, bakit hindi mo bigyan ng talagang full authority na walang manghihimasok?” Lacson added. /je