Biazon’s own staff transfers questioned

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Among the recent movements at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) that were questioned by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima were those involving Commissioner Ruffy Biazon’s own staff, prompting bureau old-timers to suggest that Biazon was “being treated badly” by his immediate boss.

At Monday’s news conference at the BOC headquarters in Manila’s South Harbor, the former Muntinlupa legislator said “even my own staff, those assigned to the Bureau of Customs, are part of the Customs Personnel Orders (CPO) questioned (by the Department of Finance).”

“But how can I work without my staff?” he said.

CPOs mandate the transfer of bureau personnel from one unit to another.

Biazon said that “at this point, it’s better if (the BOC personnel covered by CPOs) stayed put in their posts until we clarify the direction (of the issue).”

“Because, while our attention was called (by the DOF), I didn’t see any categorical statement nullifying the CPOs,” he said.

Clear up issues

The BOC, he said, will create a technical working group to clear up CPO-related issues with the DOF.

“My point is that the day-to-day operations (of the bureau) are the responsibility of the commissioner. I just want to make sure that they are not hampered… day-to-day operations should be left to frontline operators,” he said.

The BOC head said that “if the (DOF) direction is to correct it, then we will correct and make the necessary adjustments. But as it is, I would recommend that we keep the status quo as we make those adjustments as required.”

Biazon pointed out that even under previous administrations, “not all CPOs were sent to the DOF for approval.”

“My previous CPOs did not have (Purisima’s approval),” he said. “But if it’s a policy then we will uphold that policy.”

Last week, Purisima questioned Biazon’s reassignment of BOC personnel in a “very urgent” memorandum to the customs chief.

No approval

“It has come to the attention of this department that the Bureau of Customs, through the honorable commissioner, has issued various CPOs without the approval of the Secretary of Finance, ordering personnel movements in the bureau,” said the DOF head.

Purisima said most of the CPOs issued by Biazon “undermine the mandate and purpose” of CPO No. B-134-2013, which ordered all customs personnel to return to their permanent posts.

Among the CPOs recently issued by Biazon were the ones designating 17 officers in charge of the country’s 17 major ports as replacements for the senior collectors who were transferred to the newly created Customs Policy Research Office under the DOF.

On Monday, Biazon belied reports he was on a collision course with Purisima.

“It doesn’t matter what the working environment is as long as we achieve the prize—long-lasting reforms in the BOC,” he said in response to this reporter’s question.

“It would be a good legacy of the Aquino administration—reforms that are irreversible, sustainable and long-lasting. That’s the common goal,” he said.

On observations that he was being treated badly by Purisima, he said, “I don’t take things personally.”

“He’s a professional. I am a professional, because I just focus on the job, the mission given to me by the President. That’s how I am and that’s how I will always be,” he said.