Customs eyes revival of water patrol to help stop smuggling

The Bureau of Customs (BOC). FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Retired Commodore Rolando Ricafrente of the Philippine Coast Guard has been assigned to head the Bureau of Customs’ Water Patrol Division, which is to be reactivated soon to counteract smuggling in the high seas.

Although the water patrol division remains a “dead” unit, a source at the BOC said the bureau was serious in pushing for its reactivation to strengthen the agency’s boarder patrol functions.

Ricafrente is one of the seven new officials from the Department of Finance’s Office of Revenue Agency Modernization (ORAM) detailed to different BOC ports and units as part of the bureau’s ongoing reform program.

Ricafrente will spearhead a study on the viability of the proposal to revive the water patrol division.

“The proposal is not yet final because there is a capital expense, but we are working toward that direction,” according to a source at the BOC. “It’s needed but we need to know if it’s viable (as) there is a budget involved. Once you launch that division, you have to make it effective. Our plan B is to rely on the Philippine Coast Guard. But the PCG also has problems when it comes to assets. We have to determine if we could do it on our own. Commodore Ricafrente will establish if we could really do it or not.”

“At least somebody would be spearheading the efforts. While the bureau still lacks the assets, with him being a commodore, we will have a more efficient relationship with the PCG,” the source said of Ricafrente’s appointment.

The Water Patrol Division was dissolved apparently because of financial problems and lack of equipment to use.