PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, July 5, announced that he would be firing “more” officials from the corrupt-ridden Bureau of Customs (BOC) when he returns to Malacañan Palace in Manila.
Duterte made the announcement during a speech delivered at the inauguration of the Chen Yi Agventures Rice Processing Center in Alangalang, Leyte.
“I will go for the Customs again. There will be a lot of dismissals, I hope. And I try to really stop the corruption in the higher crust of government,” the President said.
“When I go back, I would be firing more from the Bureau of Customs. I am just telegraphing. Then maybe ilagay ko na sa Army talaga lahat ‘yang nasa ano. Hindi na ako maniwala niyan they are not allowed to work (Then maybe I will let Army to take over. I won’t believe that they are not allowed to work there),” he added.
In October 2018, Duterte placed all BOC personnel under “floating status” because of their supposed involvement in irregularities within the bureau.
The President also wanted the military to “take over” the BOC, in an effort to rid the bureau of erring personnel.
His previous plan was strongly opposed by his critics, saying that military takeover of Customs bureau was a violation of the 1987 Constitution.
Section 3, Article 2 of the 1987 Constitution provides that “civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military.”
Section 5(4), Article 16 of the Constitution further states that “no member of the armed forces in the active service shall, at any time, be appointed or designated in any capacity to a civilian position in the government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations or any subsidiaries.”
Duterte, in his latest speech, said he would not follow a “rule,” if the country is “sinking.”
“Since I cannot depend on the idiots, what should I do? Follow the rule that itong mga army, police hindi makadala (Follow a rule that my army and police cannot take over)? And if my country is sinking, you want me to follow a rule that cannot help my country? I will not,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)