Palace: Duterte trusts Customs deputy commissioner Baquiran

Malacañang on Monday defended President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to appoint relieved Manila International Container Port (MICP) district collector Vener Baquiran as deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Baquiran was relieved not due to corruption in relation to the entry of multi-billion drug shipments last year.

"When he was discharged from that office, it was not due to corruption. The feeling of the President is napalusutan lang, naisahan," Panelo told reporters. "That was not proven [corruption allegations]." 

"To my mind, the appointment shows that the President trusts this man," he added.

Last week, Senator Panfilo Lacson blasted Baquiran's promotion whom he said that had been accused of being a bagman and was on the list of Customs personnel supposedly receiving payoffs from big players inside the BOC, an issue he expounded on in 2017.

Lacson said Baquiran's name surfaced again in congressional inquiries and was subjected to a probe by both the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Lacson said that the DOJ even recommended that charges be filed against Baquiran after he failed to prevent massive drug shipments concealed in magnetic lifters from entering into the MICP in June 2018.

When told that Duterte had repeatedly said he will fire any government official for just a "whiff" of corruption, Panelo said the President's firing had basis.

"Iyong mga tinatanggal niya kapag sinabi niyang whiff, pinaimbestigahan niya iyon at nakakita siya ng basis to remove," the Palace spokesman said.

Baquiran's appointment paper was dated March 6, a copy of which was released by the Office of the President only on May 25. He took his oath before the President in Malacañang on May 27. — RSJ, GMA News