Customs intel service OIC returned to PDEA, Lapeña says

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña has ordered the return of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) officer-in-charge Wilkins Villanueva back to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Lapeña said the PDEA lacked manpower.

"He did not resign. He was just returned to his unit assignment," Lapeña told reporters in a press conference in Manila City.

His remarks come after reports indicated that Villanueva quit his post last week, two days after Lapeña announced a reshuffle in the BOC.

Prior to his appointment as CIIS OIC, Villanueva served as a regional director for the PDEA.

According to Lapeña, Villanueva was recalled back to the PDEA as there is a shortage of manpower in the agency which has been tasked to lead the government's campaign against illegal drugs.

"It is a mutual understanding between the head of PDEA and me that of course, manpower consideration there is that PDEA needs additional personnel at this point in time," he said.

Lapeña said some eight other personnel which he hired from the PDEA into the BOC will also be recalled.

"They were returned to the unit. Ang reason is mutual understanding. Ito 'yung mga iba na non-officers, at binalik na din sa PDEA," he said.

In the same conference, however, Lapeña said he will remove some personnel under the CIIS as they have not been doing duties.

"For two to three months, we have not been rendering intelligence reports so I think there's a need to change the people in those districts," he said. —NB, GMA News