Customs official relieved for alleged corruption

The Bureau of Customs has relieved lawyer Arnel Alcaraz as officer-in-charge of the agency’s Enforcement Group apparently based on the assumption that he was the corrupt official President Duterte was referring to in his recent pronouncement.

“We are assuming [that it was Alcaraz] because we have not received any other formal charges against the other deputy commissioners. So since na-mention sya ni President kahapon, it is safe to assume na he was referring to him,” lawyer Mandy Anderson, chief of staff of Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, said in a statement Thursday morning.

Faeldon signed on Wednesday the order that relieves Alcaraz of his position and designates Isabelo Tibayan III as temporary replacement.

President Duterte announced on Tuesday that he wants a certain Customs deputy official suspended and removed from office for alleged corrupt practices. The President didn’t identify the official.

According to the BOC statement, a graft case was filed before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against Alcaraz for alleged extortion activities. BOC is currently working with NBI to gather the affidavit of the complainants and other evidence for the investigation.

“Wala pang dumarating sa amin na any complaint against him. So we will be working hand-in-hand with the NBI to get whatever complaint was filed, and then we will initiate administrative investigation against him accordingly,” Anderson explained.

The Inquirer was still trying to get the side of Alcaraz as of posting time. CDG/rga

READ: 14 Customs men under suspension