BOC Section chief shot dead
Victim second in the ‘BOC Corrupt List’ to be shot by unknown suspects
THE customs community is in another state of shock after a senior customs appraiser was shot dead early Friday night, January 7, 2022, in Binondo, Manila.
Killed with a lone bullet wound in the head by a gunman on bord a motorcycle along Plaza Cervantes, Quintin Paredes St., was Eudes Nerpio, Chief Appraiser, Section 1B, Formal Entry Division, Manila International Container Port (MICP).
The initial report reaching Bureau of Customs (BOC) intelligence chief, deputy commissioner Rainier Ramiro, stated the victim was on board his parked gray Toyota Innova (NBU-3491) with the driver’s window open and was talking to a female companion when they were attacked by the suspect.
Nerpio’s companion at the time, a certain ‘Cris Erna’ was unhurt and took the initiative to bring the victim to the Manila Medical Center several blocks away where he was declared dead.
Rommel Francisco, president of the BOC Employees Association (BOCEA), in a statement on Saturday, January 8, 2022, condemned the killing of Nerpio, whom he described as ‘God-fearing individual’ and ‘educator’ being also an instructor at the Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI)
Interestingly, both victims are included in a purported ‘BOC Corrupt List’ listing 14 names that was received by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) last November 29, 2021 and by the office of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.
“The BOC community is calling upon the Commissioner of Customs and to the Philippine National Police to act on the matter and make sure that justice be done to this senseless killing,” Francisco said.
“BOCEA and the whole employees of BOC extend its sincerest condolences to the bereaved family and praying for the eternal repost of the soul of Eudes Nerpio,” the union official added.
Francisco also told Pinoy Exposé that the murder of Nerpio is causing anxiety and apprehension among customs officials and employees as it was the second gun attack involving customs personnel in two months.
Francisco noted that a lawyer at the office of Deputy Commissioner for Internal Administration (IAG), Donato San Juan, just survived a similar gun attack before Christmas.
Interestingly, both victims are included in a purported ‘BOC Corrupt List’ listing 14 names that was received by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) last November 29, 2021 and by the office of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.
It can also be recalled that during a Senate Committee of the Whole hearing on customs issues last December 14, 2021, lawmakers called on Guerrero to solve the killing of then IAG deputy commissioner, Arturo Lachica, the highest customs official to be murdered under the Duterte administration.
Lachica was gunned down by motorcycle-riding suspects while he was on his way home last November 17, 2016, along España Street, Manila.
Although the Department of Finance announced that a P1 million reward awaits anyone who can help solve Lachica’s case, it remains unsolved more than 5 years after the incident.
