Presidential anti-corruption body to probe P7-B shabu smuggling

The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) is set to hold a parallel investigation into the supposed conspiracy between Bureau of Customs officials and notorious smugglers, resulting in the successive entry of P4.3 billion and P3.4 billion worth of shabu in the country.

PACC commissioner Atty. Manuelito Luna made the statement on Sunday, days after the discovery of the over P7 billion worth of smuggled shabu made national headlines.

"PACC finds the facilitated smuggling of [huge amount of ] illegal drugs very disturbing and will not take this sitting down," Luna said in a statement.

Earlier last week, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency raided a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite only to find four empty magnetic lifters believed to have been used to smuggle a ton of shabu.

Reports indicated that the massive haul came into the country with another P4.3 billion worth of shabu that was brought in using similar magnetic lifting equipment that were intercepted and found to contain P3.4 billion worth of shabu in last Tuesday's  raid at the Manila International Container Port.

Luna said PACC will be summoning personalities that could shed light on the incident during their investigation.

"[The PACC] will not hesitate to recommend to the President the firing of public officials found to be remiss in the performance of duties or worse, acted in conspiracy with smugglers in facilitating the entry of the contraband," he added.

PACC was created through Executive Order 43 to assist the President in investigating and hearing administrative cases against presidential appointees with salary grade 26 and higher. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News