Palace fires customs exec for extortion

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang has dismissed from the government service a deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Customs accused of involvement in extortion activities that victimized a steel company.

In a 13-page order, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. ordered the dismissal of Customs Deputy Commissioner Gregorio Chavez for grave misconduct and abuse of authority.

“Furthermore, for respondent Chavez temporary appointment as Acting Deputy Commissioner, Bureau of Customs, is deemed terminated, effective immediately,” said the order signed by Ochoa by authority of President Aquino on Jan. 26.

Chavez, the former head of the customs bureau’s Run After Smugglers (RATS) campaign, was also found guilty of “gross incompetence and inefficiency and conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the service.”

He was stripped of all benefits and was permanently disqualified from working in government. Chavez said he was going to appeal to the Palace to reverse its decision.

“The charge against me is unfair because it has no legal basis,” he said.

Chavez was earlier slapped a 90-day suspension after he got involved in the alleged extortion of the Sanyo Seiki steel company.

Several RATS members who were linked to the alleged extortion were also ordered dismissed along with Chavez. They included lawyer Christopher Dy Buco, Edgar Quiñones, Francisco Fernandez, Alfredo Adao, Jose Elmer Velarde, Thomas Patric Relucio and Jim Erick Acosta.