NBI asks gov’t prosecs to charge Lapena over release of 105 container vans

November 12, 2018

The National Bureau of Investigation ( NBI) on Monday has asked the Department of Justice to prosecute former  Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena and several unidentified individuals for criminal and administration offenses over the release of 105 container vans illegally released from the Port of Manila last March by port operator Asian Terminals Inc.

In a complaint filed with the Department of Justice, the NBI sought the indictment of Lapena and others for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The NBI also asked the DOJ to administratively charge Lapena with gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct.

“The manifest indifference of Lapena to the established rules and procedures has led to the release of the shipments escaping the revenues that the Republic of the Philippines is entitled to. These when taken together, signifies the intention of Lapena to cause injury to the government and took advantage of his office,” the NBI said in its 35-page report to the DOJ.

The subject containers van carrying assorting ceramic tiles with estimated value of P69 million were illegally withdrawn from the Port of Manila.

Eight-five container vans were recovered   from the Homms Trading Corp. located at Block 2, Lot 3, Phase 5 Sterling Industrial Park, Libtong, Meycauayan, Bulacan in March.

Follow-up operations also resulted to the recovery of the remaining container vans, also in Bulacan.

Lapena claimed the container vans left the Port of Manila last March 17 even if it did not have the necessary documents. DMS