Duterte: Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino is next PDEA chief

President Rodrido Duterte on Monday said he will appoint Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Director General Isidro Lapeña to replace embattled Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon.

Duterte earlier said Faeldon has filed his resignation thrice.

"From the tone of his resignation, he is really disappointed. But I really believe he is an honest man," he said.

Duterte also said he has watched Faeldon in the Bureau of Customs.

"I have no reason really to doubt (Faeldon). Government would need Faeldon. But where, I really do not know," he said.

According to Duterte, he needs people like Faeldon to work for him, but he has yet to decide where to assign him next.

"I don't know, but I need men of his caliber. Naisahan lang siya eh. Alam mo, ang rotten talaga diyan is the system, not necessarily the person. The Bureau of Customs has a rotten system. You need somebody to have a system there, a new one, and a competent military man can do it, just like General Lapeña. Kaya niya 'yan," he said.

Duterte has yet to say when Lapeña will take over the top post in the Bureau of Customs.

He said Philippine National Police Region 3 Regional Director Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino will replace Lapeña as PDEA chief.

"There will be a new PDEA chief, it will be General Aaron Aquino, the regional (director). He was assigned in Davao. He is not from Davao," Duterte said.

Lawmakers have called for Faeldon's resignation after some P6.4 billion worth of shabu from China slipped past the Port of Manila.

They asked why the contraband passed through relaxed security inspection.

Lawmakers argued that since the shipment came from China, long believed to be a major source of narcotics being smuggled into the country, it should have been inspected more thoroughly.