Mangaoang welcomes Lapeña's exit from BOC, denies demolition job

Former Customs X-ray chief Lourdes Mangaoang on Friday denied that there is a demolition job against Customs chief Isidro Lapeña, who has been removed from post amid the P11-billion shabu smuggling controversy.

"Commissioner Lapeña has had a self-destruction. Hindi ako instrumento ng kahit na sino. Hindi po totoo 'yang may demolition job," Mangaoang said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"Ang purpose ko ma-prosecute, ma-convict 'yung mga may sala."

Lapeña, who will be transferred to Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), will be replaced by current Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) administrator Rey Guerrero, a former Armed Forces chief.

Mangaoang, who locked horns with Lapeña in connection with the shabu smuggled through four magnetic lifters seized in Cavite in August, welcomed his removal from the BOC, but said she could not care less about his next post.

"I really don't care kung saan siya malilipat. Pero 'yung pagkakaalis niya sa Bureau of Customs, natutuwa po ako," she said, describing Lapeña's leadership in the bureau as "questionable."

Lapeña, who earlier denied that the empty magnetic lifters seized in Cavite last August 8 was used in smuggling shabu, changed his tune after hearing the testimony of Department of Public Works and Highways official during a congressional inquiry earlier this week.

He was fired a day after this admission.

Mangaoang said by refusing to believe that the lifters contained illegal drugs, Lapeña made himself look like an accomplice of drug syndicates.

"You are covering up for the drug syndicate if you are hiding the body of the crime. If you are covering for a crime, you will be suspected as a member of the drug syndicate," she said.

"With his denials, he is bungling the prosecution of the people behind this case." —Llanesca Panti/KBK, GMA News