Duterte ‘freezes’ several top BOC execs, employees — Panelo

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the appreciation dinner for House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at The Manila Hotel on July 9, 2019. VALERIE ESCALERA/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Wednesday, July 10, announced that President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the “freezing” of several high-ranking officials and employees of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) over corruption allegations.

These officials and employees, the spokesman said, will be named “at the appropriate time as they face administrative and criminal charges for unlawful activities.”

“We continue to dismantle corruption in the bureaucracy and rid it of corrupt officials and employees,” Panelo said in a statement.

“The President’s latest action underscores this Administration’s zero tolerance on corruption among erring officials,” he continued, stressing that the government’s anti-corruption campaign is “continuing as it is relentless” and that “no one will be spared.”

This announcement came after Duterte last Friday said he will be firing more officials the BOC.

“I will go for the Customs again. There will be a lot of dismissals I hope. And I try to really stop the corruption in the higher crust of government,” the President said in his speech in Alangalang, Leyte.

Then on Monday, he said four more BOC officials will be next on his chopping block.

“Ubusin ko talaga ‘yan. Sabi nila hindi ma-kontrol ang corruption? Eh tingnan natin (I will eliminate them all. They say corruption cannot be controlled? Let’s see),” he said.

It can be recalled that on October 2018, the Chief Executive said he would ask military men to temporarily take over the BOC due to the “dirty games” being played within the bureau.

“It will be a takeover of the Armed Forces in the matter of operating, in the meantime, while we are sorting out how to effectively meet the challenges of corruption in this country,” Duterte earlier said.