(Eagle News) — One strike and you’re out.
This was the message of Isidro Lapeña to Bureau of Customs employees as he took the helm of the office from his predecessor, Nicanor Faeldon, on Wednesday.
President Duterte announced Faeldon’s replacement after a P6.4-billion drug shipment entered the country via Customs express lanes in May, angering lawmakers who called for inquiries into the matter.
“Just do your work, prove your worth and I will back you up. But once I receive reports of your corrupt practices, and such reports are validated, I will not think twice. Pasensyahan tayo,” Lapeña said.
He said his “top priority” was to “do away with ‘pasalubong’ and ‘tara'” in the BoC, and to implement a no-gift policy.
Anyone who stood in his way because of his or her corrupt practices, he said, would be “taken out” if he or she did not “give way.”
“It’s either you are with me or I’ll (do that to you),” he noted.
He also warned employees against using his name to commit any offense.
In his farewell speech, Faeldon called on Customs employees to help the new Customs chief implement reforms in the bureau.
Lapeña headed the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency before he was appointed at the helm of the Customs department.
Senator Panfilo Lacson commended Duterte for choosing Lapeña to replace Faeldon, noting that the senator could personally vouch for the-then PDEA head’s integrity.
Lapeña also implemented a one-strike policy when he headed the anti-drugs agency.