MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday announced that he will fire 64 Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel over allegations of corruption. “I will be dismissing something like 64 Customs officials,” Duterte said during the signing ceremony of the loan agreement for Malolos-Clark railway project. The President also said that the firing of the officials and employees accounts to a third of the corruption problem in the revenue-collecting agency. According to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, the corruption complaint against the personnel was brought to the attention of BOC chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero. Though he first said that the Customs employees would face charges, the President later said in his speech that they might be spared if they resign.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 11, 2019 09:00 UTC