Duterte orders arrest of Customs agent

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, October 24, revealed that he has ordered the arrest of Bureau of Customs (BOC) intelligence agant Jimmy Guban, who was earlier cited for contempt at the Senate for perjury and involvement in the illegal entry of P6.8-billion shabu from China.

In a speech delivered at Palace’s Heroes Hall, the President said he directed Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde to have Guban arrested and have him investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“Iyang si Guban pinapa-aresto ko. Sabi ko, right after the session, ‘You arrest him.’ Sabi ni Albayalde, ‘What ground?’ [Sabi ko.] ‘Just arrest him, bring him to the NBI. Huwag kayo kasi kayo, namention kasyo diyan sa investigation. Bring him to the NBI,’” Duterte said.

(I have ordered the arrest of Guban. I said, right after the session, “You arrest him.” Albayalde asked, “What ground?” [I said,] “Just arrest him, bring him to the NBI.”)

“Tawagan mo nga kung naaresto na. Naaresto na? (Call somebody and ask if he’s already arrested. Is he already arrested?)” he added.

On September 11, Guban, a member of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, was ordered arrested by Senate blue ribbon committee chair Richard Gordon.

Guban, who is believed to be a conduit of international drug traffickers in the BOC, was cited for contempt for allegedly telling lies during a Senate hearing on the P6.8billion shabu shipment intercepted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at the Manila International Container Port on August 7.

A September 12 special report furnished by Duterte to Palace reporters on October 10 confirmed Guban’s supposed links to illegal drugs.

The report claimed that Guban’s style was to “try to impresss his boss or

superior by providing accomplishments.”

“He (Guban) would present himself as a team player, raiding warehouses full of fireworks and ukay-ukay,” it read.

“His modus was to arrange with the owners the raid of their warehouses. The arrangement is for the owners to remove 75 percent or their goods, and leave the 25 percent to be caught by the BOC officials and shown off for media mileage. By doing these, he could both look good to his superior while at the same time forwarding his own agenda with the warehouse owners,” the report added.

The report that came from Duterte also recommended that Guban undergo a further investigation and an in-depth lifestyle check.

“The anomalies at the BOC will not come to an end until the individuals behind the illegal activities in the bureau are removed,” the report said. “Even with great leaders, as long as these rotten personnel remains, the anomalities will still prevail.” (SunStar Philippines)