By Betheena Kae Unite Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero on Monday appealed to newly-hired Customs police officers to help him rid the bureau of corruption. During the installation of 90 newly-hired Customs police, Guerrero reminded them of their duties and responsibilities as law enforcers and public servants amid the lingering corruption in the agency. Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero speaks during the Reception Ceremony of the 90 newly hired customs police batch (lagad ng obyerno na aalay ang ahat para sa duana).
(BUREAU OF CUSTOMS / MANILA BULLETIN) "Lilinisin ko ang Bureau of Customs at inaasahan ko na makakatulong kayo at tutulong kayo sa akin sa paglilinis dito (I will clean the Bureau of Customs and I expect you to help me in cleansing the bureau)," the Customs chief stressed. As law enforcement agents, the commissioner added “they should act as the forefront in the bureau’s continuous fight against corruption.” The new Customs police batch Agila -- Aagad ng Gobyerno na Iaalay ang Lahat para sa Aduana -- will undergo a five-day orientation program and a 40-day basic course training. Earlier, more than 50 customs employees and officers were slapped with administrative cases and relieved from their positions due to alleged involvement in illegal activities in the bureau. They were summoned by the President and were even asked to just resign or retire. Guerrero also earlier reiterated his intention to reform the bureau with the help of all Customs employees otherwise they are free to leave the agency. “Yung mensahe natin ‘di nalalayo sa mensahe ko nung unang araw na umupo ako. Walang ibang patutunguhan ating ahensya sa aking pamumuno kundi two things lang: either magsama kami or maghiwalay (My message to them is similar to what I told them when I assumed office. There’s no other outcome during my rule in the bureau but two things: either we work together or we separate ways),” Guerrero said.