MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday ordered the arrest of resigned Bureau of Customs (BOC) intelligence officer Jimmy Guban for allegedly allowing the entry of tons of suspected “shabu” stashed inside magnetic lifters.
In his speech in Malacañang, Duterte said he ordered Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde to arrest and bring Guban to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“So, I ordered the arrest of Guban. I said, ‘Right after the session, you arrest him.’ Albayalde said, ‘What grounds?’ ‘Just arrest him. Bring him to the NBI,’” Duterte said.
The President ordered the arrest of Guban as the House of Representatives conducted on Wednesday an inquiry into the alleged smuggling of PHP6.8-billion worth of shabu into the country.
Duterte said Guban faked identification cards to allow the entry of tons of shabu through the magnetic lifters in the BOC.
“He allowed the entry, he faked the ID. You know, if you do that every day, you are fooling me. If that’s the case, I would rather resign,” the President said.
Guban claimed in a previous Senate inquiry that Police Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto had instructed him to find a consignee for the shipment.
Meanwhile, Duterte urged BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Chief Aaron Aquino to stop blaming each other and instead go after the culprits behind the smuggled shabu.
“That is why (the shipment) slipped through them. Instead of killing the idiots, they were blaming each other,” Duterte said in his speech in another Palace event.
He described Lapeña and Aquino as men of good character and integrity.
“Lapeña is good. He has been with me. Believe me. He has served Davao City more than 15 years and Aaron,” he said.
During Wednesday’s House hearing, Lapeña agreed with Aquino’s previous statement the four magnetic lifters found in Cavite were used to smuggle shabu.
Duterte said the system in the government is corrupt, urging the Filipinos to join him in his campaign against corruption.
“You have access to this place (Palace) 24 hours a day when it comes to corruption in government. Tell me who is this guy asking for money, extortion. I will call him here. I’ll have him arrested,” Duterte said. (Jelly Musico/PNA)
