MANILA — It is not an ‘impossible task’ for military personnel to work at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) if they are willing to learn, a Customs official said Tuesday.
“Learning is very generic, it’s open to everyone. For as long as they have the open mind to learn,” Lilibeth Bonifacio, acting chief of the BOC Interim Training and Development Division, said in an interview.
Bonifacio noted that they would need 30 days to train these personnel on general administration, assessment, operations, intelligence and enforcement, and the information and technology system.
They are looking to tap some 30 personnel from the field as trainers.
Bonifacio, meanwhile, advised incoming BOC personnel from the military to veer away from corruption.
“A firm resolve to really stop corruption. For them not to be corrupt, they should have a firm resolve not to be corrupt. Discernment, tingnan ang sarili nila (they should look at themselves). The issue on corruption stops with you if you cannot be corrupt, then corruption would stop, wala sila mahahawaan (they won’t be able to spread corruption on others),” she added.
Reports said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is forming a composite contingent for deployment to the BOC in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order.
On Oct. 25, Duterte ordered the transfer of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). He would be replaced by retired AFP chief and Manila Industry Authority (Marina) Administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero.
The change in the BOC’s leadership came amid the controversy on the PHP6.8-billion shabu shipment which allegedly slipped into the country through magnetic lifters. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
