De Lima seeks investigation into customs bureau ‘militarisation’

Detained Senator Leila de Lima yesterday called for a Senate inquiry into President Rodrigo Duterte’s move ordering the military to temporarily take over the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to stamp out corruption.In filing Senate Resolution (SR) 949, De Lima expressed concern over the adverse effect of appointing military personnel on the regular functions of the agency. “The militarisation of the BoC may impede the operations of the BoC and as a result, may gravely affect collection of revenues, the lifeblood of government,” she said.The senator noted that the functions of the BoC, under Republic Act 10863, include “assessment and collection of customs revenues from imported goods and other dues, fees, charges, fines and penalties; border control to prevent entry of smuggled goods; and prevention and suppression of smuggling and other customs fraud,” among others.In October, Duterte ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to take over the bureau, saying it was “part of his declaration of a state of lawlessness in the country.”Duterte transferred Customs chief Isidro Lapena to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and replaced him with the head of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), retired AFP chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero.The Palace later backtracked and said the “takeover” of the military merely meant that heads of offices and sections within the bureau would be placed on floating status and the military would be on hand to assist the agency.De Lima said Duterte should follow the Constitution, which provides that military officers in active service cannot be appointed to civilian positions in the government, especially because there is no “state of lawlessness” in the BoC.“The operationalisation of the military takeover of the BoC threatens to violate the provisions of the Constitution on the proscription against the assumption by active military officers of civilian functions and civilian offices, aside from other basic principles of a republican and democratic government as enshrined therein,” she said.