UPDATED: NBI files raps vs Lapeña, others over shabu in magnetic lifters

The National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday, Jan. 24, filed charges against former Customs chief Isidro Lapeña and several others before the Department of Justice in connection with the shabu said to have been found in magnetic lifters last year./Moira Encina/Eagle News/

(Eagle News) — The National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday, Jan. 24, filed charges against former Customs chief Isidro Lapeña and several others in connection with the shabu said to have been found in magnetic lifters last year.

Lapeña, who is now the head of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, was slapped with administrative  charges–for alleged dereliction of duty and grave misconduct—and criminal charges for graft over the illegal drugs that were allegedly contained in six magnetic lifters that were discovered in two different places last year.

The BOC and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency first discovered the two magnetic lifters that contained shabu in a Manila port in August.

A few days later, four magnetic lifters were found in GMA, Cavite but these were found to be empty.

PDEA said the four magnetic lifters contained shabu, but Lapeña denied this, saying the lifters found in Cavite tested negative for illegal drugs.

He later, however, backpedaled on his statement.

Also charged before the Department of Justice in connection with the two magnetic lifters found in Manila were 16 parties, including the supplier, Fastleap Asia.

Charged in connection with the four magnetic lifters were 18 individuals.

Three people—Marina Signapan, Joel Maritana and Romeo Naval—were charged for giving a false testimony, while one, Insp. Lito Pirote, was charged with perjury.

“The liability of the BOC officials for the entry of the illegal drugs in the country is as much as the liability of the private individuals who facilitated the importation of the same as without the ‘tara (grease money)’ system this fiasco would not have been possible,” the complaint said.

“It must be stressed that public office is a public trust. All government officials and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice and lead a modest life. They failed in this aspect miserably,” the complaint added.

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