Purisima slams court for extending restraining order against Customs reshuffle

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said he was dismayed by the decision of the Manila Regional Trial Court to extend its temporary restraining order against the reassignment of some customs officials as the order went against efforts to clean up the Bureau of Customs.

“The Manila RTC’s most recent decision serves those who resist reform and cling desperately to the old ways. This runs counter to President Aquino’s agenda to eradicate the predators that plague customs,” Purisima said in a statement.

The statement was released on Saturday following the decision of the court to extend the TRO against the implementation of Customs Personnel Order No. B-189-2013.

The customs personnel order, issued by the Bureau of Customs and backed by its mother agency, the Department of Finance, transfers 27 customs collectors to new posts.

In particular, they are ordered to transfer to the newly created Customs Policy Research Office, which operates as a unit of the Department of Finance.  Their new duties involve helping draw policies that will ensure customs operations are in accordance with international standards.

A 72-hour TRO was issued last Tuesday by the court upon the request of 15 petitioners, who were part of the 27 customs officials ordered to transfer.

The TRO was supposed to have expired last Friday, but the court extended it until Oct. 20 at the behest of the petitioners.

Meanwhile, Purisima called on the concerned customs officials to withdraw their case against the customs personnel order and asked them to cooperate with the Aquino administration’s efforts to reform the bureau.

“President Aquino’s quest to stamp out corruption across many institutions is a long and challenging task, and at times it will be difficult for all of us. To our colleagues in the BOC, I call on you to share the President’s vision and accept your orders with nobility,” Purisima said.

Purisima said the Customs Policy Research Office has a legitimate and vital function. As such, he said, the concerned customs officials should not consider their transfer a demotion to less important tasks.

He said the customs officials will not suffer from any reduction in salary or benefits.

“In preparing for our goal to be the most competitive economy for Asean economic integration in 2015, it is important that we have intellectual leadership to guide our customs policy-making,” Purisima said.