Palace has plan vs smuggling

President Aquino: “Action plan” vs smuggling. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino on Wednesday disclosed the existence of a Palace “action plan” that could rid the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of scalawags and smugglers, but he kept mum on the fate of Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon.

“Well, I think that’s his reaction to the numerous criticisms that he has been getting,” said the President when asked in an ambush interview in Roxas City about his thoughts on Biazon’s pronouncement that he would only quit if asked to do so by the President.

Without directly responding to the question, Aquino added:

“Commissioner Biazon knows that we have a serious plan for Customs, but we have yet to agree on the timing when we could implement this action. But, in my view, many will see this as a wide-ranging solution to the problem of smuggling in the country.”

Under fire

Biazon has come under fire following complaints by chief executive officers of Petron Corp. and Pilipinas Shell of rampant smuggling of petroleum products through the country’s major ports and special economic zones.

The President was interviewed in Roxas City, where he and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas led the ceremonial groundbreaking of the newly-renovated Roxas City Airport.

Once the action plan is implemented, the President expects various smuggling activities in economic zones and major ports around the country to cease.

But the President said he wanted Biazon to do “housecleaning.”

When asked if there was a cogent need for the BOC to go after big-time smugglers, Aquino said:

“Many cases that have been filed are now going through the [legal] process, but let’s wait for the implementation of this solution [to curb smuggling].”

Demolition job

Malacañang has ruled out any leadership change in the BOC at this point, with a Palace official earlier telling the Inquirer that those calling for the head of Customs Commissioner would have to wait until after the May polls.

Biazon has, thus far, rebuffed calls for his resignation, claiming that “personalities and vested interest groups” were behind a “demolition job” against him.

“I’m watching you. You won’t get away with it,” he warned his detractors, but the customs chief, who just returned from an official trip to Panama City, did not identify them.

The President has reportedly been mulling over the creation of a watchdog against oil smuggling to be headed by last-term Senator Panfilo Lacson.