PDEA Chief: ‘Customs chief should be held accountable for drug slip’

MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Customs (BOC) commissioner Isidro Lapeña should be held responsible if it is proven that P6.8 billion worth of illegal drugs had slipped past the country’s ports and into the streets.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Aaron Aquino made the statement yesterday, saying that under the doctrine of command responsibility, the head of a government agency should be held responsible for the actions of his subordinates.

“If there are misdeeds, of course the officers would be held accountable for the actions of their subordinates like what happened in Customs,” Aquino said in an interview over dzBB.

Aquino, a former police official, cited the practice in the Philippine National Police where a regional police director is usually relieved over the mistakes of his men in the provincial level.

“Most likely, that will happen, it will affect the (Customs) commissioner,” he said, referring to Lapeña.

Aquino in August claimed a ton of shabu could have already may its way into the streets after PDEA agents seized several empty magnetic lifters at a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite.

He said the magnetic lifters were similar to what were used to smuggle some P4.3 billion worth of shabu at the Port of Manila in the same month.

Aquino hinted that some scalawags at Customs could have facilitated the release of the magnetic lifters that were discovered in Cavite.

Aquino, however, clarified it is still too early to say whether Lapeña or other government officials should be punished, noting the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has yet to conclude its probe into the incident.

Aquino said he only talked to Lapeña during committee hearings at the Senate and House of Representatives.

During their brief meetings, Aquino said he and Lapeña promised to collaborate in solving the problem.

Malacañang said Lapeña still enjoys President Duterte’s trust and confidence for now. 

“The Department of Justice has ordered an investigation. The NBI is presently conducting (an investigation) on the subject matter. So hopefully after their findings, we will undertake positive action regarding the matter. It’s still under investigation,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said at a press briefing yesterday. – With Alexis Romero