Duterte bares dismissal of Customs officials, personnel for corruption

A number of officials and personnel of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have been dismissed from service over their alleged involvement in corruption, President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday.

In his weekly national address, Duterte read the names of several BOC officials and staff “who are now under quasi judicial or judicial scrutiny.”

The list also included names of executives of the embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

Last week, the BOC announced that 20 personnel were dismissed while hundreds of others were being investigated for allegedly engaging in illegal activities. 

“The BOC aims to send a clear and firm message to all Customs personnel doing unlawful activities that the Bureau will be relentless, unwavering, and serious with its efforts to weed out misfits in the agency,” it said.

Duterte earlier ordered a Department of Justice-led task force to investigate corruption in the entire government. 

He also called for an audit of the projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways after alleging that corruption is rampant within the agency. —LDF, GMA News