Duterte: Jail without bail for those behind P6.4-B shabu smuggling

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed that the people behind the P6.4 billion worth of smuggled shabu from China which slipped past the Bureau of Customs would rot in jail.

“They will have to go to jail without a bail,” Duterte said in a press conference in Malacañang on Monday night.

The President said he has accepted the resignation of Customs Chief Nicanor Faeldon after he had written him thrice to relieve him from his post.

“Si Faeldon stalemate na siya e (Faeldon is at a stalemate),” he said.

Duterte named Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director Isidro Lapeña as the new Customs Commissioner.

READ: Duterte names Lapeña as new Customs chief to replace Faeldon

“There’s going to be an investigation, diyan sa Customs…bakit lumusot doon (in the Customs… how did the drugs get through)? That’s why I’m putting another guy there, to find out,” he said.

The President said he was giving Lapeña free hand to “revamp” the Bureau of Customs.

“As I see it, we need to revamp, we need to revilatize, take in new [people]. Balasa (Shuffle it up). Kung sabi niya (if he says), we will take new guys in, bahala siya diyan. Hayaan ko siya (It’s up to him. I’ll let him to it),” he said.

The Chief Executive asked the public to give Lapeña time to investigate the shabu mess at Customs.

“Let’s just wait. Let the guy sit there for a time, and he can improve for the investigation, and in due time, I will ask for the neck of those involved,” he said.

Duterte said he wanted all those involved to be charged with conspiracy.

“Not only that, we only have to prosecute them criminally para … and remember that is non-bail. Kung lahat ng involved diyan, taga Customs (If everyone involved there is from Customs), they will have to go to jail without a bail,” he said. JE

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