Tag: Isidro Lapeña

Dominguez to BoC: Set up “data arrangements” with 3 PHL trade partners to curb smuggling

(Eagle News) – Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has ordered Bureau of Customs officials (BoC) to “set up data arrangements” with three more of the country’s top trading partners in a bid to curb smuggling. In a statement on Monday, the Department of Finance said Dominguez made the directive for the BoC to establish the system with South Korea, Japan, and the United States during a recent executive meeting. The Finance chief said that in particular, […]

Bureau of Customs: P8.98 million worth of misdeclared goods seized at Port of Manila

(Eagle News) — The Bureau of Customs has intercepted P8.98 million worth of misdeclared goods from the Port of Manila. In a statement on Monday, the BoC said the two-footer vans were intercepted upon their arrival in February and December last year. The shipment that contained cigarettes arrived on February 21. Its importer had declared it contained brackets instead. The other shipment that contained fireworks, the BoC said, arrived on December 31, 2017. Its importer […]

Customs chief Lapeña: “Major reshuffle” in BoC under way

  (Eagle News) — Expect a “major reshuffle” in the Bureau of Customs. Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña made the announcement at the agency’s flag-raising ceremony on Monday. “Meron pa ring matitigas ang ulo … We know you. In fact, expect a major reshuffle coming your way,” he said. He said he would do “what it takes” to ensure that the agency was rid of the tara system that sees employees and officials receiving money to […]

DOJ junks Faeldon motion to dismiss PDEA-filed complaints vs him in connection with P6.4-B drug shipment mess

(Eagle News) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has junked  former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon’s motion to dismiss the complaints filed against him in connection with the P6.4-billion drug shipment that slipped through the country via Customs express lanes in May. In junking Faeldon’s motion, the DOJ investigating panel said it “finds no cogent reason to deviate from (the) earlier position of the Department that it has jurisdiction to conduct preliminary investigation over drug cases involving […]

Lacson: Faeldon received P107-million, not P100-million, “pasalubong,” according to Customs chief Lapeña

(Eagle News) — Former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon received a P107-million “pasalubong” when he took the helm of the Customs bureau, seven million more than the amount Senator Panfilo Lacson revealed  he received from Customs players. In a television interview on Tuesday, Lacson said this was the confirmation given to him by “no less than” Isidro Lapeña, who replaced Faeldon after he  resigned amid corruption allegations. “(Lapeña) confirmed that there’s indeed pasalubong money and he […]

Customs chief Lapeña: Deputy Commissioner Gambala has resigned

  (Eagle News) — A high-ranking Customs official who was accused of receiving grease money has resigned from his post. Isidro Lapeña, Bureau of Customs chief, said in a radio interview that Deputy Commissioner Gerardo Gambala, head of the Management Office Information and Technology System, tendered his “irrevocable resignation” almost two weeks ago. Lapeña said Gambala, who was included in Senator Panfilo Lacson’s list of Customs officials and employees who received grease money from several players, […]

Over 30 section chiefs, district collectors sacked as BoC starts cleansing ranks under newly installed chief Lapeña

(Eagle News) — Over 30 Customs employees and officials were sacked on Monday for failing to stop corruption and for failing to meet their collection targets. Customs Chief Isidro Lapeña said of the 38, eight are district collectors, and 30, section chiefs. The eight were Elvira Cruz of the Cebu port; Romeo Rosales of the San Fernando port; Jose Naig of thr Iloilo port;  Julius Premediles of the Limay port; Divina Garrido of the Legazpi port;  […]

Faeldon files ethics complaint vs Trillanes

(Eagle News) — Former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon on Monday filed an ethics complaint against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. “Idol pa naman kita,” Faeldon, who is detained at the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms after his surrender following being cited in contempt, said in a brief press conference. Faeldon was cited in contempt by the Senate for his refusal to attend Senate blue ribbon committee hearings on the P6.4-billion drug shipment that slipped […]

PDEA files criminal raps vs Faeldon, several others over P6.4-billion drug shipment

(Eagle News) — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has filed criminal charges against former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and several others over the P6.4-billion drug shipment that slipped through Customs via express lanes in May. PDEA filed charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, particularly for conspiracy to import illegal drugs and for protecting or coddling drug traffickers against Faeldon and others from the BOC —BOC directors Milo Maestrecampo and Neil Anthony Estrella; intelligence officers […]

Faeldon files ethics complaint vs Lacson

(Eagle News) — Former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon formally filed on Monday an ethics complaint against Senator Panfilo Lacson, who accused him of receiving a P100-million “pasalubong” when he was the newly installed Customs chief. Faeldon, who has been detained at the  Office of the Sergeant at Arms since his surrender days ago after being cited in contempt by the Senate for his refusal to attend subsequent Senate blue ribbon committee hearings into the P6.4-billion […]

Faeldon says he will “definitely” go to Senate on Monday but only “to turn (himself) in”

  (Eagle News) — Former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon will “definitely” go to the Senate on Monday, but will not attend the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing slated on that day. “Hindi ako aattend (sa hearing). Pwede nila ako buhatin..I will submit myself to them para ikulong nalang nila ako,” he said. Faeldon, however, was not  arrested, even as Senate blue ribbon committee chair Richard Gordon said this would be the case if the former […]

Faeldon a no-show in Senate committee hearing; says he wants to “protect (his) rights”

(Eagle News) — Former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon was again a no-show in Thursday’s Senate blue ribbon committee, citing what he said was the need to “protect (his) rights.” In a letter sent to the committee headed by Senator Richard Gordon, Faeldon said he would answer allegations if charges were filed against him before a “competent court.” Faeldon noted that his decision to absent himself was “not an act of defiance,” noting that he attended […]