Duterte wants all Customs fixers killed

Kill all fixers at the Bureau of Customs.

President Duterte issued this latest directive to new Customs Commissioner Rey Guerrero who will be aided by the military in stamping out corruption and smuggling in the bureau.

The President, who has authorized a major reorganization of the BoC, said he has cautioned Guerrero to remain vigilant since the bureau was "contaminated with corruption."

"Sabi ko diyan ka, magdala ka ng sundalo. Patayin mo lahat ‘yang fixers diyan kasi pati ikaw kakainin ka diyan," Duterte said during an agrarian reform event in Boracay Thursday.

Duterte said soldiers could spot the fixers in the BoC and deal with them accordingly. "Sabi ko ‘pag makita ninyo, barilin mo na, tapon mo sa dagat. Way lang mag-amin. Linte na mga criminal diha,” he said.

The President earlier directed the military to assist the new Customs chief in restoring law and order in the bureau following the alleged smuggling of drugs into the country. Some groups, however, criticized the military takeover of the BoC as unconstitutional.

To dispel concerns his decision was unlawful, Duterte explained that he has not appointed or designated any soldier to any posts in the BoC. He said he merely placed Customs personnel on floating status pending an investigation into the alleged corrupt practices.

"Kaya sinarahan ko ‘yung Bureau of Customs I am not appointing anybody. I am not designating anybody. Alam, ano bang alam ng sundalo ‘yung ledger o journal o resibo o trust agreements diyan?" he said.

Duterte admitted that it was difficult to get evidence of corruption so he temporarily relieved the section chiefs pending a probe.

"The only way na malaman ko talaga is alisin ko kayong lahat tapos bago ako mag-imbestiga. Noon ka na nandiyan kayo sige nakaw tapos sige ako maginvestigate. I need proof and it is hard to get. And in the meantime that I will be investigating, you continue with your practice of corruption," he said.