THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed anew graft and other charges against Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director-General Isidro S. Lapeña, in connection with billions of pesos worth of shabu that slipped past the Bureau of Customs last year on his watch.
In its Statement of Facts dated Jan. 14, the NBI charged Mr. Lapeña before the Department of Justice (DoJ) with two counts each of graft, dereliction of duty, and grave misconduct, in connection with shabu shipments worth P2.4 billion placed in two magnetic lifters found at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in August last year and worth P11 billion contained in four empty magnetic lifters found in Cavite.
“His deliberate intent to favor the violator(s) was manifested by the fact that, (despite their being) identified by Commissioner Lapeña, he did not prosecute or cause the prosecution of the violators,” the NBI said in its statement.
More than 50 others were also charged with the former customs chief.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte transferred Mr. Lapeña to TESDA last October. A month later, he was charged by the NBI with graft, gross neglect of duty, and grave misconduct, in connection with the release of ceramic-tile shipments in March last year. — GMC

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