Lapeña, Guerrero assume new posts at TESDA, BOC

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday sworn into office newly-appointed Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Isidro Lapeña.

Malacañang said Duterte administered the oath of office to Lapeña and Guerrero at the Philippine Air Force Brigadier General Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City and at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City, respectively.

In his marching orders to Guerrero, Duterte said the former military chief should “double [his] zealousness” in eradicating corruption at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Two of Guerrero’s predecessors, Lapeña and Bureau of Corrections director general Nicanor Faeldon, ended their stint at the bureau amid criticisms over the entry of multi-billion-peso drug shipments that supposedly slipped past port inspections.

“Kung sa Army ka pa, takot talaga sa’yo ang mga tao kasi istrikto ka daw. Double the zealousness and maybe you’d have a better chance of retiring unscathed,” Duterte said of Guerrero.

The President also expressed optimism that Guerrero would do well in his job, calling him a “good and honest” man.

Duterte then directed Guerrero to replace existing Customs personnel with members of the government security forces.

“Maybe you can utilize the Coast Guard sa peripheral...but doon sa loob, alam mo, Jagger, you can draw your ‘yung technical men ng Army, mga technical men ng Air Force, Navy… Hintayin mo, post ka na ng mga Marines ang katabi,” he said.

Critics have slammed Duterte’s decision for a military “takeover” of the BOC, saying it would violate the constitutional prohibition on appointing or designating active soldiers to civilian positions in the government, including government-owned and controlled corporation or any of its subsidiaries.

Concerns about the lack of core competency on the part of the military in overseeing the revenue-generating agency have also emerged.

In response to criticisms, Malacañang  clarified on Tuesday that military personnel will not hold assignments or designations at the BOC.

The Palace said the soldiers would be “effectively” guarding the Customs employees to make sure that all operations are in order and all laws are strictly enforced in all processes undertaken. — MDM, GMA News