‘Keep politicians out of Customs’

Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian: No politicians please. File photo

No politicians, especially those with aspirations for higher office, should be appointed to head the Bureau of Customs (BOC), in order to protect the bureau from any intrigue that would hinder its task of going after smugglers, said Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian.

Malacañang should consider permanently appointing a corporate professional as customs commissioner, as he or she would be less likely to have political biases or links and would not be distracted by ambitions of running for public office.

President Aquino has designated John Philip Sevilla, a finance department undersecretary, as officer in charge of the BOC after he accepted outgoing Customs Commissioner Rozzano “Ruffy” Biazon’s resignation from the post.

‘Moral muscle’

Biazon, the President’s Liberal Party colleague, resigned after he was named in a criminal complaint involving the alleged misuse of his pork barrel funds when he was a Muntinlupa representative.

Gatchalian said the customs bureau chief should have strong managerial skills as well as “moral muscle” to run after the corrupt people in the agency. The BOC leader should also have corporate discipline to lead the bureau.

“The next BOC chief must have the needed corporate qualifications suited for the job; someone who is fearless and does not have any political biases or ambition; a visionary who can influence those who resist change; an activist who can carry out reforms yet mindful of the employees’ welfare; and most importantly, somebody who has the moral fitness and integrity to lead and transform an institution that has a deeply entrenched culture of corruption,” he said in a statement.

No hesitation

Gatchalian added that the next permanent BOC chief must not hesitate to go after the smugglers and send them to prison.

According to Gatchalian, a strong leader is needed at the BOC because introducing reforms there has been tough with strong resistance from various groups.

He also pushed for customs procedures to be automated in order to reduce face-to-face transactions between bureau personnel and importers.

The BOC should also reduce the number of ports where it has posted a dedicated customs presence in order to strengthen enforcement and reduce pilferage and smuggling in static ports, he added.

Biazon, meanwhile, said he supports the appointment of Sevilla as BOC officer in charge.

“No one can question the credentials of Sunny Sevilla… he has an untarnished record and unquestionable integrity,” Biazon said.

He said Sevilla had the added advantage of already having an “established working relationship with the [finance] department and Secretary [Cesar] Purisima.”

Biazon said he and Sevilla have already met to discuss the projects and programs that are in the middle of implementation and need to be followed through.