Rebel soldier launches new war, this time vs smugglers
Jailed for seven years for involvement in alleged plots to unseat two Philippine leaders, former Army Brig. Gen. Danny Lim on Thursday launched another war—this time against smugglers and their backers.
Sworn in by President Aquino as deputy customs commissioner for intelligence, Lim said his “marching orders” were to help stamp out graft and smuggling at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), boost revenue collection and not to believe anyone who would namedrop Mr. Aquino’s name.
And Lim made it clear he would not be seduced with money in carrying out his job.
Lim’s colleagues in the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) vowed to support Lim’s crusade and help him ensure that his staff remain “as pure as snow.”
“This is war… I was jailed for seven years for fighting corruption and I’m not going to let that go to waste,” Lim said at press conference.
“The President said I should not entertain those who use his name, those of his relatives or close associates because he will have none of that,” the West Point graduate added.
Lim said he planned to tap as his chief of staff the former point-man of the Department of National Defense on military reforms, former Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Ordoñez, a RAM member, who retired from the military service this June.
Even before newly appointed Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon officially takes over the bureau on Monday, Lim was already warning corrupt officials, smugglers and their influential backers not to expect any gentle treatment from him if they pursued their crooked ways.
No kid gloves
“To those who are hardheaded and their friends outside customs who will insist on their nefarious activities, I’m warning you, stop what you’re doing,” Lim said.
“We will not treat you with kid gloves. You will not enjoy undue favor and advantage in this bureau. We will not treat gently those who willfully rob the Filipino people and their government,” the former rebel soldier declared.
Lim also let it be known he would not be bribed.
“To those who get their way through bribery and other inducements, don’t even think about it,” he said.
“The Arroyo government and the corrupt few in the military, whom I fought against, failed to seduce me with money or favors. So will you.”
“We will not allow the rotten few to stain the dreams of many for real change,” he added.
Annual losses
A 2008 Department of Finance report said the government had been losing about P140 billion in potential revenues every year due to smuggling. Last year, the Federation of Philippine Industries placed the country’s revenue losses from smuggling at P127 billion.
Lim admitted he had no background in raising revenues for a state financial institution but he pointed out this also meant he was joining the BOC without any “baggage,” while having experience in intelligence gathering.
Lim ran but failed to garner a Senate seat during the 2010 national elections as a guest candidate of Mr. Aquino’s Liberal Party.
The former soldier was detained for three years for trying to oust then President Cory Aquino—the incumbent President’s late mother—in the late 1980s, and for about four years for allegedly plotting to overthrow then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Friend’s advice
Lim said running again for the Senate in the 2013 elections was an option.
A former RAM spokesperson, retired Navy Capt. Proceso Maligalig, said Lim should focus on ridding the BOC of grafters and smugglers.
“Make a career in customs and the public will see the results,” said Maligalig, who sat beside Lim at the press conference.
Maligalig said Lim was reluctant at first to accept his appointment because of the bureau’s reputation as a den of corruption.
However, Maligalig said he convinced Lim to take up the challenge, noting that another RAM official, the late Col. Billy Bibit, also worked at the BOC.
‘Don’t talk to brokers’
“Do you know that there are 5,000 container vans missing? We will look for them in every nook and cranny of the islands,” Maligalig said, adding that RAM members would help Lim hunt smugglers.
“He (Lim) is incorruptible. I’ve advised him not to talk to brokers and just let his staff handle it. We will also make sure that his staff is as pure as snow,” Maligalig added.
He said he would help Lim in an unofficial capacity.
Lim said he planned to hire a few retired military officials and civilians to help him in his job, and nodded his head when asked if he meant they would be “less than five.”
“They will have to follow me and have a background in intelligence gathering,” Lim said.
“If before container vans were vanishing like bubbles, this time we will work for graft to disappear,” Lim said, referring to cases of shipping containers filled with imported items that disappeared after being brought to the country.
Den of honest men
“From being perceived as a den of thieves, we will try to let the Bureau of Customs be known as a place for honest and efficient work,” Lim said.
In a statement released by Malacañang after taking his oath, Lim said the President’s instruction to him was help boost customs collections and fight corruption and smuggling.
“So we will look at ways to ensure the existing (intelligence) network would be able to deliver,” Lim said.
Lim also vowed to initiate bureau reforms by looking at “loopholes” and “weak links” in the system.
“It’s important to look at the various functions there such as broker’s accreditation, risk management, use of X-ray machines, warehouses and the integration of these functions,” he said.
No bitterness
Outgoing Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said he had no bitterness over Mr. Aquino’s decision to replace him, adding he was thankful for having been given the chance to run the BOC even for a short period.
In a statement, Alvarez said he believed Biazon was an “excellent choice” to head the bureau and that naming Lim as deputy commissioner for intelligence was a wise move.
Alvarez, whose resignation takes effect today, said he believed the partnership of Biazon and Lim would help turn the bureau into an efficient, ethical organization.
Like Lim, Biazon unsuccessfully ran for senator in last year’s elections under the Liberal Party.
In Congress, Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay also hailed the appointment of Biazon, a former lawmaker, as the new BOC chief.
Magsaysay cited Biazon’s work ethic and integrity.
Rep. Sherwin Tugna of the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption asked the people to give Biazon a chance to prove his worth. With reports from Christine O. Avendaño, Cynthia D. Balana, Michelle V. Remo and Inquirer Research
