MICP collector relieved over ‘shabu’ shipment

Manila International Container Port (MICP) district collector Vener Baquiran has been relieved from his post over the recent shipment of illegal drugs that slipped past the port and for failing to meet revenue collection target.

Bureau of Customs spokesperson Erastus Austria said Balmyrson Valdez would replace Baquiran. Valdez was the MICP acting district collector from January until April, when he was transferred to head the legal service of the agency’s Revenue Collection Monitoring Group.

“The commissioner [Isidro Lapeña] has said in the past that, consistent with his one-strike policy, that (‘shabu’ shipment) is one ground,” Austria said.—TINA G. SANTOS