MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has ordered Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero to “shape up” after informing him of the continuous entry of illegal drugs into the country.
Duterte, who recently called the BOC a “very troublesome office,” said there were times when Guerrero depended too much on people who have been in the bureau for a long time.
“There were times (when Guerrero) relied more ... on people who were already old hands there. Eh ’di napasok siya … sa bulsa (He was used in their corrupt activities),” the President said during a meeting of the government’s pandemic task force last Monday.
“I told him straight, (drugs are) still flowing inside the country, in customs. I told him, I wanted to tell him a while ago, ‘Didn’t he ask for guns?’ I said, ‘I approved the purchase of firearms and until now, you have not killed even a single person?’ I told him, ‘Shape up,’” he added.
People who are new at their posts tend to rely on people who offer to help them, according to Duterte.
“And when they gain your confidence, (you would) rely on what they say until you would believe that they are doing the right thing,” he said.
The Chief Executive said he had assured Guerrero that he would not go to jail for killing drug smugglers.
“I told him, ‘Drugs are still coming in. I want you to kill. I will back you up. You won’t go to jail. As long as it’s illegal drugs, shoot them, kill them.’ That’s the deal,” Duterte added.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. confirmed that Duterte had summoned Guerrero to Malacañang last Monday to discuss “fresh marching orders.”
“I think (the President) was giving fresh marching orders last night (Aug. 31) because I saw Commissioner Jagger yesterday and they had a separate meeting, although I was not privy to the meeting,” Roque said at a press briefing yesterday, using Guerrero’s nickname.
Duterte also ordered a reshuffle at the BOC and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., saying officials cannot remain at their posts for too long.
“(Officials) cannot be comfortable in their posts because if they become too comfortable in their temporary assignments, they will have a debt of gratitude, which could become a hindrance to the discharge of their functions,” Roque said.
Late last month, Duterte revealed that he almost fired Guerrero over his chief-of-staff Teodoro Jumamil, who was accused of corruption.
The President said he had asked Guerrero to dismiss Jumamil, but it took him “quite a lot of seasons” to do it. Previous reports said Jumamil was dismissed from his post last month as part of internal cleansing at the bureau.
Work double time
Following Duterte’s rant on Monday, Guerrero yesterday vowed to work double time after Duterte aired his disappointment over his performance at the BOC.
In a rare instance, Guerrero told reporters through a text message that the BOC would work closely with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police – Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-PDEG) to beef up their anti-illegal drug campaign.
“We heed the President’s instructions and we will double our efforts as we continue to work closely with the PDEA and PDEG in our anti-illegal drug campaign,” Guerrero said.
Guerrero, however, did not respond when asked if he would heed Duterte’s order to “kill” people who are into illegal drugs, but said, “The BOC is committed and fully supports the President in his fight against illegal drugs.”
“Our intensified campaign against all forms of smuggling has resulted in the confiscation and seizure of not only illegal drugs, but also other contraband that passed through our ports,” Guerrero added.
He did not respond when pressed for further details.
BOC spokesman Vincent Philip Maronilla said they would also follow the instructions of Duterte to implement a reshuffle of the bureau’s officials in the regional offices.
Maronilla, however, said the BOC has already implemented the reshuffling of officials at its district offices in the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and in ports of Batangas; San Fernando, La Union; Limay, Bataan; and Legaspi.
He added that the BOC would also continue the evaluation and reorganization of its district and major offices to improve its services and to prevent familiarization of personnel in their current assignments.
Tokhang for negligent barangay execs
In a related development, barangay officials who are negligent in the government’s anti-drugs campaign should be subjected to Oplan Tokhang, PDEA director general Wilkins Villanueva said yesterday.
In barangays that have yet to create their anti-drug abuse councils (BADACs), which is necessary in curbing illegal drugs in the community, the chairman should be called out for that, he said during the Facebook page’s official launch yesterday.
The controversial Oplan Tokhang is the Duterte administration’s flagship campaign in the war on illegal drugs, where policemen visit drug users and ask them to stop their illegal activities.
Villanueva said barangay officials should play a more active role by instituting programs to rehabilitate drug users, which will compliment the operational aspect of the anti-drugs campaign. Otherwise, drugs will surely get into the community. – Robertzon Ramirez, Emmanuel Tupas