BOC spox denies Lapeña did not act on suspicious magnetic lifters

The spokesperson of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday denied that Commissioner Isidro Lapeña did not act on the supposed evidence that the magnetic lifters found in Cavite contained something, possibly shabu.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, BOC spokesperson Dino Austria said Lapeña ordered an investigation on the alleged shabu smuggling, contrary to the claim of Deputy Collector for Operations and Assistant Project Manager of CMTA PMO Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang.

"From day one pa lang nu'ng meron tayong na-apprehend in Manila International Container Port together with PDEA, immediately after he (Lapeña) has ordered a thorough [investigation]. Talagang lahat ng aspeto nitong transaksiyon na ito, imbestigahan," Austria said.

"As a matter of fact, dalawa nga po 'yung separate na investigating committees na ginawa ni commissioner," he added.

On Wednesday, Mangaoang showed X-ray images of the magnetic filters in Cavite showing cloudy sections, indicating that something was inside them.

The images, she said, were different from the X-ray scans of another batch of magnetic lifters that came in the country on August 13, which did not contain cloudy parts.

Austria said the X-ray images were turned over to Lapeña and were then submitted to the House of Representatives as well as in the Senate blue ribbon committee for their respective investigations.

The BOC spokesperson noted that the images need to be thoroughly investigated as merely comparing them based on whether there have cloudy parts would not be conclusive.

"Hindi naman siya apples to apples, 'di ba? Magkakaiba ho ang configuration ng bawat magnetic lifters. Hindi po puwedeng sabihin natin na ito 'yung hugis at itsura na nakikita natin sa image ng isang magnetic lifter. Kung hindi siya parehong-parehong brand at type at classification, of course we will not see the same type of image," he said.

Austria said he and Mangaoang were in Lapeña's office when Mangaoang presented her X-ray images. He said he suggested to Lapeña to conduct an investigation.

"In-include 'yung images na 'yun na nanggaling sa kaniya. I do not know where she got those slides, pero tinurn over 'yun kay Commissioner Lapeña and madami pang images, 6 to 7 images, were given and submitted to the investigating committees in the House as well as in the blue ribbon," Austria said

"Lahat po 'yon, hindi po natin masasabi na walang aksyon that was taken on that," he added.

Austria reiterated the findings that no residue was found after swabbing the lifters for possible chemicals.

Austria said the findings would be more conclusive if chemical test is done as K-9 units are "prone to error."

"Ang pinaka-conclusive nga diyan sa pananaw namin is 'yung chemical na testing. Whenever there is conflict, 'yun 'yung pinaka-[basis] because I think, that is what will stand in court."

Thus, Austria maintained BOC's position that no shabu was found in the containers.

"How can we conclusively say at this stage? 'Yun po ang ating sinasabi. Sabihin na nating talong-talo ang Bureau of Customs ngayon sa public perception, pero kasi nirerespeto din natin ang ongoing investigation... Ayaw po naming napapangunahan 'yung magiging findings po nila."

Asked if he personally believed some BOC personnel were involved in the alleged successful smuggling shabu, reportedly worth P6.8 billion, he said the agency will be the first to clean up its ranks.

"Ang Bureau of Customs, kami po ang mauuna sa paglinis ng sarili naming hanay dahil 'yun ang utos ng Presidente, 'yun din ang utos ng Commissioner, and that's why we take any information very seriously," Austria said. —Jamil Santos/KBK, GMA News