Customs top cop not back in post, says Alvarez

MANILA, Philippines—Customs Commissioner Angelito A. Alvarez yesterday said that Jose Yuchongco had not reclaimed his post as Customs chief of police.

“We wish to clarify that contrary to published reports, Yuchongco has not reported back for duty… despite the reinstatement order by former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez,” Alvarez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The Customs chief said the implementation of the order was subject to confirmation by the Department of Finance (DoF), which has authority over the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

“The BOC has already referred the matter to the DoF and is now awaiting word on whether Yuchongco will indeed be reinstated,” Alvarez said.

At the DoF, sources said concerned officials were holed up in a meeting discussing Gutierrez’s order.

On Wednesday, officials said the DoF’s anti-graft body—the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS)—would take action because it filed the complaint that resulted in Yuchongco’s removal from office in the first place.

In a phone interview, RIPS executive director Romeo Tomas declined to comment, saying that he was at a meeting and that his superiors were the ones authorized to give any statement on the matter.