No resignation letter from Customs chief yet, says Palace

Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez has yet to resign from the top post at the Bureau of Customs even though President Benigno Aquino III said he has chosen Alvarez’s replacement, a Malacañang official said Tuesday afternoon.

Ricky Carandang, head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, made the disclosure at Tuesday’s regular news briefing in Malacañang.

“As of today, I don’t believe he has submitted his resignation,” Carandang told reporters.

“Regardless of whether or not resignation has been submitted… I think the President will do what he has to do,” he added.

President Aquino told reporters during his state visit to China that the person he has picked to replace Alvarez has asked for some time of quiet with his family until September 16 before he takes on the job.

Mr. Aquino said he gave Alvarez assignments that the commissioner failed to deliver on, but did not say if he had asked Alvarez to resign or personally told him about his displeasure with his performance.