Panelo: Duterte orders 'freezing' of several Customs officials, employees

ABS-CBN News

Posted at Jul 10 2019 10:55 PM | Updated as of Jul 11 2019 06:04 AM

MANILA— The government will file charges against corrupt officials and employees in the Bureau of Customs (BOC), a Palace official said Wednesday.

"The President has directed the freezing of several high-ranking Customs officials and employees, whose names would be disclosed at the appropriate time, as they face administrative and criminal charges, for unlawful activities," Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

He said the Duterte administration has a zero-tolerance policy for corruption.

"The anti-corruption campaign is continuing as it is relentless. No one will be spared," Panelo added.

Duterte had said that Customs is among the most corrupt agencies in the government. 

He also wants the military to take over the corruption-plagued bureau after billions of pesos worth of illegal drugs slipped past its watch in 2018.