Palace says Duterte still trusts Customs chief Guerrero

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte still trusts his Customs chief even after threatening to fire more officials at the agency for corruption, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

Customs Commissioner Leonardo B. Guerrero still enjoys the trust and confidence of the president, who hasn’t mentioned anything about firing him, presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said at a briefing in Malacañang.

Mr. Duterte named Mr. Guerrero, his former Armed Forces chief of staff, as his Customs chief in October last year, asking him to “double the zealousness” in ridding the agency of corruption.

On Monday, the president vowed to fire more Customs officials who he did not identify. “There will be a lot of dismissals, I hope,” he said. — Arjay L. Balinbin