MANILA, Philippines – Controversial retired colonel Allen Capuyan has a new role under the Duterte administration – chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

President Rodrigo Duterte signed his appointment on May 27. It was made public on Tuesday, June 4.

Allen Capuyan, former MIAA official and someone tagged as involved in smuggling of shabu by customs broker Mark Taguba, is appointed National Commission on Indigenous Peoples chairman. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/NBWC7FsVI3

— Pia Ranada (@piaranada) June 4, 2019

This is Capuyan’s 4th post under Duterte’s presidency. First, he was Manila International Airport Authority assistant general manager for security and emergency services.

After resigning amid allegations of his involvement in the smuggling of P6.4-billion worth of shabu in March 2018, he was appointed Presidential Adviser on Indigenous Peoples’ Concerns, with the rank of undersecretary, in April that year.

Then in March 2019, Duterte appointed Capuyan the executive director  of the National Secretariat of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

The agency, placed under the Office of the President, seeks to end communist insurgency by addressing causes of armed conflict like poverty and lack of livelihood opportunities.

Shabu controversy

Capuyan was accused of involvement in smuggling P6.4 billion worth of shabu from China to the Philippines in May 2017.

He allegedly provided tariff codes that gave smugglers access to the green lane or express lane, which exempts shipments from X-ray inspection. (READ: From Hello Garci to ‘Big Brother’: Who is Allen Capuyan?)

The customs broker, Mark Taguba, who made these accusations, also alleged that Capuyan was the “Big Brother” referred to in Taguba’s text messages with members of the supposed “Davao Group.”

Capuyan was also allegedly involved in the “Hello Garci” scandal during the Arroyo administration.

As chief for operations of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Capuyan was allegedly the man behind their wiretapping operation that monitored those they believed to be part of the opposition. – Rappler.com