Palace: Duterte wants to spare Lapeña from 'intrigue'

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has been planning the reassignment of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) for a long time to spare the latter from "intrigue," Malacañang said on Friday, October 26.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President made the sudden announcement of Lapeña's "promotion," because the embattled Customs chief's reputation has been besmirched amid controversies plaguing the Bureau of Customs ( BOC) .

"With respect to Commissioner Lapeña, matagal nang nakaready i-transfer sa Tesda. Kaya lang nadali kasi alam mo si Presidente, he wants to spare him from intrigue dahil sinisiraan nang husto," Panelo said in a radio inteview.

(With respect to Commissioner Lapeña, his transfer to Tesda was readied for a long time. It was unexpectedly announced because the President wants to spare him from intrigue because he has been vilified.)

"Kaya nabigla, nadali 'yung announcement. Nadali 'yung promotion niya. Cabinet member na siya ngayon (That's why the announcement was sudden. His promotion was immediately announced. He is now a Cabinet member)," he added.

Duterte, in a speech delivered Thursday, October 25, announced his decision to assign Lapeña as Tesda's new head, amid the alleged smuggling of P11 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) through the Port of Manila.

The President decided to "promote" Lapeña, expressing confidence that the former military official can perform well as the new chief of Tesda.

Lapeña has come under fire for allegedly "covering up" drug smugglers by denying that the four empty magnetic lifters seized in Cavite in August did not contain illegal drugs.

Lapeña has persistently insisted that there was no shabu found in the magnetic lifters, but recently conceded that these could have contained shabu.

Panelo defended Lapeña, blaming the Customs chief's subordinates whom he said have roles in the ceaseless irregularities within the BOC.

The Palace official said Lapeña was merely a "victim" of the "games" being played by lower-ranking officials of the BOC who are involved in corruption.

"Ang problema diyan, kaya nga 'di ba sinabi ni Presidente, 'yung mga nasa baba talaga, mukhang marami sa kanila ang involved. Sabi nga, ang Customs, malala ang corruption eh (The problem there is, just like what the President said, many of the BOC personnel are involved in unlawful acts. Corruption at the BOC is worse)," he said.

"Kahit na sino ang ilagay mo, mukhang mahihirapan sila maging matagumpay. Pinag-lalaruan ka ng mga nasa baba mo eh. Ganoon ang nangyari diyan (Whoever will lead the agency, it will be difficult for them to attain their goals. The lower-ranking officials are playing games with him. That's what happened)," Panelo added.

Duterte appointed former military chief and current Maritime Industry Authority administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero to replace Lapeña.

The Chief Executive also ordered the "freezing" of all sections, department and unit heads at the BOC.

Panelo said the President was expecting that Guerrero would "get rid of corruption" at the BOC.

(SunStar Philippines)