MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice wrapped up on Tuesday its preliminary probe into graft raps against former Customs commissioner and now Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Isidro Lapeña and 50 others.
Assistant State Prosecutor Mary Jane Sytat had clarificatory questions to the two parties during the preliminary investigation hearing, before deeming the complaint submitted for resolution.
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The prosecution panel is determining whether there is probable cause to charge Lapeña and 50 others with graft and administrative charges over two incidents of shabu smuggling last year.
The TESDA chief is facing two counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and administrative complaints of dereliction of duty and grave misconduct over two smuggled magnetic lifters believed to have contained illegal drugs.
Authorities seized lifters in Manila that are suspected to contain P2.4 billion worth of shabu. Another shipment of magnetic lifters, also believed to have concealed P11 billion worth of shabu, was found empty in Cavite.
The National Bureau of Investigation said Lapeña, head of the Bureau of Customs during the incident, did not file any case against the shippers and consignee of the magnetic lifters even after it was discovered that the goods were misclassified.
“His deliberate intent to favor the violator was manifested by the fact that, in spite the violators were identified by Commissioner Lapeña, he did not prosecute or cause the prosecution of the violators,” the complaint read.
Former Customs Intelligence Officer Jimmy Guban is also facing at least three criminal complaints.
Guban has been admitted to the DOJ's Witness Protection Program.
The NBI also named former Police Senior Superintendent Eduardo Acierto, former PDEA Deputy Director General Ismael Fajardo, Customs Deputy Commissioner Ricardo Quinto and Police Inspector Lito Pirote in the complaint.