MANILA, Philippines (Updated 2:09 p.m.) — The National Bureau of Investigation slapped Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chair Isidro Lapeña—former Customs chief—and other Customs officials with administrative and graft raps over a shabu shipment that allegedly slipped past authorities in 2018.
The supposed shipment is said to be worth around P11 billion.
The NBI filed complaints of violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, Anti-Graft And Corrupt Practices Act and Grave Misconduct complaints before the Department of Justice on Thursday.
JUST IN: NBI files drug raps vs importers, individuals linked to shabu shipments/magnetic lifters seized at MICP, Cavite last year as well as graft, admin raps vs ex-BOC chief Lapeña before DOJ | @edupunay pic.twitter.com/X5wgxFZI82
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) January 24, 2019
Importers and several other individuals were also named as respondents in the complaint.
Illegal drugs weighing more than 1,600 kilograms are believed to have been concealed in four magnetic lifters discovered in a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite.
Lapeña is facing a complaint of Dereliction of Duty, Violation of Section 3(E) of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Grave Misconduct.
The cited provision of the anti-graft act penalizes: “causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency filed criminal raps against 49 individuals and private firms over the same shipment last December, but excluded Lapeña from the complaint as they said that there was no evidence directly linking him to the case.
The NBI pointed out that 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.
RELATED: Customs chief changes tune on shabu in magnetic lifters
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 Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency filed criminal raps against 49 individuals and private firms over the same shipment last December.
The NBI also named former Police Senior Superintendent Eduardo Acierto, former PDEA Deputy Director General Ismael Fajardo, BOC Deputy Commissioner Ricardo Quinto, and Police Inspector Lito Pirote in the complaint. — Kristine Joy Patag with report from The STAR/Edu Punay