Duterte names Lapeña as new Customs chief
August 21, 2017 | 4:00pm
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Isidro Lapeña is new Customs commissioner, replacing retired military captain Nicanor Faeldon. File
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is set to appoint Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Isidro Lapeña as Customs commissioner, replacing retired military captain Nicanor Faeldon who has drawn flak for the entry of P6.4 billion worth of shabu in the country.
“General Lapeña has my confidence and trust. It will be his decision if he will reorganize (the bureau). I will place him there,” Duterte told reporters in an evening press conference yesterday.
“He said he would reorganize, a massive one,” he added.
WATCH: President Duterte on incoming Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña: He has my confidence and trust @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/GhAbj4EEIJ
— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) August 22, 2017
Duterte said Police Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, the director of the Police Regional Office in Southern Luzon, would succeed Lapeña as PDEA chief.
Despite accepting the resignation of Faeldon, Duterte is still convinced that Faeldon is an honest official.
“From the tone of his resignation I really believed he was an honest man,” the president said.
WATCH: Duterte on outgoing Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon: I believe he is an honest man @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/sNzqDPTd5t
— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) August 22, 2017
Duterte could not say what would be Faledon’s next assignment. He, however, said he would need officials like the outgoing Customs chief in government.
Some lawmakers have asked Duterte to fire Faeldon, saying the Customs chief can no longer be trusted because of the release of a P6.4 billion shabu shipment from China last May.
Faeldon has rejected calls for him to resign, saying only the president can fire him. The Customs chief, however, tried to resign from the post three times.
New DSWD chief
Duterte also revealed that he has offered the post of social welfare secretary to a female senator but declined to elaborate.
The Commission on Appointments has rejected the appointment of Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, one of the Cabinet officials endorsed by leftist groups.
Duterte said he chose not to meddle with the decision of the CA, noting that the voting was done in secret.
He admitted that he felt bad with the rejection of the appointment of Taguiwalo, whom he described as “bright.”
WATCH: President Duterte reacts to CA's rejection of the appointment of DSWD Sec. Judy Taguiwalo @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/Ik8HpTkDOH
— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) August 21, 2017
Duterte also revealed that he is planning to appoint Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año as officer-in-charge of the Interior and Local Government department until the one-year ban for appointing retired uniformed officials lapses.
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