Aquino replaces all of Biazon’s deputies
The revamp at the graft-ridden Bureau of Customs (BOC) is finally on.
President Benigno Aquino III appointed former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Jessie Dellosa as deputy commissioner for the BOC Enforcement Group, replacing Horacio Suansing Jr.
“Suansing was replaced. All deputy commissioners were replaced,” said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a phone interview late on Saturday, correcting what was previously announced by deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte in a radio interview before noon on Saturday.
Valte had said Dellosa had replaced deputy commissioner for Intelligence Group Danilo Lim.
Lacierda explained Dellosa will wear two hats in the meantime as deputy commissioner for enforcement and officer in charge (OIC) of intelligence, adding:
“Lim’s resignation has been accepted. The President has said that already. In the meantime Dellosa is OIC for intelligence, as well.”
Other appointments
There was no word yet on any posting for Lim, a former Army brigadier general who had reportedly offered to quit his post at least six times because of supposed powerful officials of government interfering with the affairs of BOC.
Dellosa retired from military service in January.
According to Valte, Mr. Aquino also named Primo B. Aguas as deputy commissioner for Management Information Systems and Technology Group, replacing Maria Caridad T. Manarang, and Agaton Teodoro O. Uvero as deputy commissioner for Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group, replacing Prudencio M. Reyes.
“While these are not new appointments, there are two officials that will be detailed to deputy commissioner posts from their existing (postings) in government,” said Valte in a radio interview.
The President named the officials: Director Myrna Chua of the Department of Budget and Management as deputy commissioner for Internal Administration Group, and Finance Assistant Secretary Ma. Edita Tan as deputy commissioner for the Revenue Collection Monitoring Group.
The appointments were signed by the President on Thursday but made public only Saturday.
Previous reports said Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima had recommended these new appointees to the President.
Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said about the new deputy commissioners:
“I am willing to work with anyone and will welcome those who are appointed to the BOC. A fresh team could provide a fresh perspective and approach to the challenges of the bureau.”
In July, Lim publicly announced his resignation from his post a day after Mr. Aquino scolded the BOC in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The President had singled out the BOC for repeatedly falling short of its collection targets and failing to check smuggling and corruption.
Lim said he agreed with the President’s observation that the BOC had not performed in accordance with the expectations of the people.
“The apprehension of smugglers as well as the guaranteeing of correct collections are continuing activities that need as much attention as the job of instituting reforms—a virtual guarantee that the latter activity would take time, much more time than the public would be willing to give us. In view of this, I see no other recourse but to leave this office,” he said.
Quoting sources, the Inquirer reported on Friday that Purisima had forwarded a customs personnel order (CPO) for Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazonto sign assigning all Collectors 5 and 6 to the DOF cluster on revenue generation.
The cluster is headed by Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares. With a report from Tina Santos
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