Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña pointed to drug syndicates as possibly behind allegations that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) let slip crystal methamphetamine (shabu) shipments with an estimated worth of P6.8 billion.
“There is no doubt that these attacks against me and the officers, men and women of the Bureau of Customs (are) well-funded and coordinated attacks to undermine the reforms I started,” Lapeña said in a press conference on October 23.
The attacks are in reference to claims by BOC official Atty Lourdes Mangaoang that the BOC may have covered up the shabu shipment. Mangaoang had said she alerted Lapeña about the potential shabu haul but that he did not act.
Lapeña said Mangaoang may even be “unwitting or wittingly” used by drug syndicates.
The whole controversy is rooted in the discovery in August of four empty magnetic scrap lifters in Cavite which PDEA claims once contained shabu, but which BOC denies. The BOC and PDEA have since been in a word war as to whose assessment is correct.
“The issue on x-rays, and all these noises are smokes and mirrors–technicalities being used to divert the public from the main issue”, and that these are “being manipulated by the drug syndicates”, Lapeña said.
“It is a fact” drug syndicates have penetrated the government and exists in agencies such as BOC and PDEA, he noted.
“Proof of this is the drug matrix recently shown by the President himself. They have penetrated the high echelons of the bureaucracy.”
He added these syndicates are not only experts in hiding contraband from modern technologies but are experts in media spinning and propaganda.
“For all we know, this bickering (between PDEA and BOC) is already part of their machinations,” Lapeña said.
“I do not blame the PDEA chief. I now realized that both I and PDEA chief (Aaron) Aquino may have been misled. Mukhang scripted ang buong pangyayari. (Looks like everything is part of a script.) A script concocted by the same drug syndicates. A script, that perhaps, some actors of the syndicate are still following to this day. A staged drama to put the PDEA and BOC on a bitter war, while the enemy regroups. We should not fall for this cloak-and-dagger-style of disinformation,” Lapeña said.
“We should refocus. Even the President, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, has revealed the personalities behind the government drug syndicate. This is where we should drive our focus and energies—file cases against these personalities,” Lapeña said.
He said PDEA, as the lead agency in the fight against illegal drugs, should focus on drug-related personalities, while BOC should adopt corrective measures to stop drug smuggling.
Lapeña reiterated that BOC is still one with PDEA in the fight against illegal drugs and that he is open to dialogue with PDEA’s leadership.
Lapeña said he has already spoken with President Rodrigo Duterte and has submitted a report on the matter. He said they talked about the drug syndicates but refused to provide other details as these are confidential.
“As long as I deliver what he wants me to do then I would say that the President still has trust and confidence (in me),” Lapeña said.
He added he is not resigning since he still has marching orders from the President. “I serve under the pleasure of the President.” – Roumina Pablo
