Duterte meets with BOC personnel tagged in corruption cases

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte met last night with about 50 personnel from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) who were summoned upon his order over alleged corruption activities in the agency.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, presidential spokesman and chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo, Bureau of Customs chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and Sen. Christopher Go were among the officials who joined Duterte in the meeting that lasted more than an hour.

Duterte publicly reprimanded last week the BOC employees tagged in what he described as “dossiers” coming from various sources in the intelligence community on the alleged involvement of  Customs personnel in unabated corruption.

He said the affected executives would be placed on floating status pending results of the investigation.

He challenged them to file their resignation or face probe.

“In the meantime that their cases are being heard, in obedience of the rule of the right to be heard, I want them to be here (at) Malacañang,” he said.

He added that he wanted the Customs personnel to shift jobs – from their supposed administrative work at the BOC to removing water hyacinth in Pasig River – so that his barge can cross the river smoothly when he goes to Malacañang from his official residence.