Income hike seen as sacked customs execs plot to keep posts

Some customs offices are reporting successes in their collection drive amid the continuing resistance by some officials to an ongoing revamp, which the officials questioned in court, leading to holdovers and reports of maneuverings by some to cling to their positions.

In customs offices in key ports, like Manila, reports are circulating that those ordered out of their positions are going to return, among them Prudencio Reyes, deputy commissioner who was among those ordered booted out of office in the ongoing reform program at the customs bureau.

According to sources at the bureau, Reyes’ men are anticipating his return as deputy commissioner in defiance of the reform program being implemented by Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon on the orders of President Benigno Aquino III.

In Eastern Visayas, customs officials reported overshooting their target collection for the first three quarters of this year.

The Eastern Visayas customs office set a target of P194.8 million but actually collected P198 million, according to Rommel Eamiguel, customs cashier in Eastern Visayas.

“We remain hopeful that we can attain our collection target this year,” Eamiguel said.

The bureau is undergoing a revamp, which led to the removal of Reyes and Horacio Suansing Jr., another deputy commissioner. With a report by Joey Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas