Plans for military takeover of BOC to be finalized in a few days — DOF

Plans for the takeover of the Philippine military on the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will be finalized in a couple of days, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Monday.

"We will finalize the plan in the next couple of days," Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Joselito "Tony" Lambino II said in a text message.

This comes as President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday evening said the Philippine military would take over the operations of the BOC.

"They will be replaced, all of them, by military men. 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," said Duterte.

The announcement came after Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña was removed from his post and was transferred to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Lapeña's transfer was made amid a legislative inquiry into the alleged smuggling of P6.8 billion worth of methamphetamine (shabu) into the country.

BOC Deputy Collector for Operations Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang earlier this month insisted that Lapeña knew that the shipments that entered the country contained shabu, but did not take action on the matter.

Lapeña denied knowledge of the matter, and said that the allegations may be linked to an ongoing internal cleansing at the bureau.

Sought for more details on the takeover of the military, Lambino said talks have been ongoing for several days, but he did not elaborate.

"Discussions have been ongoing for several days," he said. — RSJ, GMA News