Business as usual amid military takeover threat
Officials of the BOC in Cebu refused to issue statement on how the impending military takeover will affect the revenue collection. It was, however, observed that there was no presence of military personnel yet in the customs building.
Outgoing Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña has issued a memorandum to all BOC officials that a formal turnover ceremony and command conference will be held on October 31.
Lapeña will be replaced by former military chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero. The outgoing commissioner was promoted to head the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
The president relieved Lapeña amid the controversy of P11-billion drug shipment slipping past the customs officials. Duterte, however, did not believe that the outgoing commissioner was involved in it.
He defended Lapeña saying that the illegal drug shipment slipped past customs because of the corrupt system and not because of his trusted man. The president believes that relieving all customs personnel and replacing them with active military men will solve the problem.
The opposition described the move as unconstitutional. Senator Risa Hontiveros said that pushing for the military takeover of a civilian agency is a violation of the constitutional principle of the supremacy of civilian authority over the military. —