Enrile admits backing ‘king’

SENATE Minority Leader Juan Ponce-Enrile admitted he has recommended the promotion of Port of Manila district collector Rogel Gatchalian who was tagged as one of the so-called “three kings” at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), but denied asking any favors from him.

The “three kings” refer to customs officials occupying sensitive position at the BOC and having powerful political backers.

Enrile, in an interview yesterday, said he did not know Gatchalian but somebody had approached him to help in the latter’s promotion to Collector VI during the Arroyo administration.

“Somebody approached me if I could help him to get an item, a rank, higher than what he had. I think he was aspiring to be a Collector VI and so I recommended him to be promoted to Collector VI. I did not recommend him for Manila,” he said.

“Then, when his appointment came, it was Malacañang that issued an appointment giving him the rank of Custom’s Collector VI taking over from vice Suansing who was then retiring from the port of Manila. He did not asked for that eh.”

Suansing is former deputy commissioner Horacio Suansing.

When Gatchalian was finally appointed to the post, Enrile said he had told him not to embarrass him and he must show that he could increase the collection in the port of Manila.

“Yun ang ginawa nya (that’s what he did), he was the number one performer. So, after that they could not take him out of Manila, because… nobody can equal his performance,” said the senator.

“But, I never called him for any favor or anything. I never interceded for him to anyone,” he added.

Gatchalian was one of those who vacated their posts as part of a revamp now being implemented at the bureau.

Trillanes confused

Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV is now waiting for President Aquino’s next move after he exposed the alleged corruption in the BOC.

Trillanes told reporters he was “confused” as to why the President still rejected the resignation of Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon after berating the bureau.

“I’m confused kasi nilabas nya ang sama ng loob nya , ibig sabihin nun e talagang grabe na ang sitwasyon. Ngayon yung head of agency, you are principally responsible, everything that’s happening,” he said. (I’m confused because he already expressed his sentiments, meaning the situation is serious. Now, the head of the agency, you are principally responsible for everything that’s happening)

“Medyo confused ako at this point. Bakit hindi mo tinanggap yung resignation ni Biazon? Pero sige diskarte mo yan.” (I’m a bit confused at this point. Why didn’t you accept Biazon’s resignation? But that’s your style)

“Naghihintay tayo ngayon ng next step kasi wala pa ring action ang nangyayari. Kasi lumabas ka ng sama ng loob, nilabas mo yung problema, may nag-resign, hindi mo tinanggap. Ngayon ano ang gagawin mo? I’m willing to be surprised,” he said. (I’m waiting now for his next step. Because you expressed your sentiments, someone had resigned, you did not accept it. Now, what are you going to do?)

Trillanes was convinced that the President himself knew the corrupt people in customs based on how he rebuked them in public.

This is why he can’t understand why the Senate has to investigate the issue and the so-called “padrino system” in the bureau when they know the people behind it.

“Ako I will support it pero bakit pa kung alam naman na natin. I’m sure alam na ni Senator Escudero kung sinu sino yung mga nire-refer dyan. Alam na din ni President Aquino kung sinu-sino yung mga nire-refer na padrino so aanuhin pa natin ito?” Trillanes asked. (I will support it but what for if we already know. I’m sure Senator Escudero knows who were the “padrinos” being referred to? So what is this for?)

He was referring to Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, who filed a resolution, urging an investigation into the “padrino system” in the BoC.

Trillanes admitted that he was “not hopeful” that the revamp now being implemented in the bureau would address the corruption problem there.

“Hinahayaan ko yung executive na gawin nila yung kailangan nilang gawin at tayo dito, titingnan natin kung may epekto yun, yung ginagawa nila,” he said. (I will let the executive do what they have to do and we will see if what they’re doing will have an effect)

If the present Customs head would be replaced, Trillanes said he would probably recommend former Senator Panfilo Lacson to replace Biazon.

He said Lacson, who had previously rejected the idea, might agree to accept the post if the President would convince him. /Inquirer