The Bureau of Customs reshuffled its district collectors for failing to meet its assigned collection targets and cited graft and corruption continues to exist because it is tolerated by unscrupulous individuals.
Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said that graft and corruption is the reason for decrease in revenue collection and it is also the reason criminals are able to sneak in illegal drugs into the country through the ports.
Among the affected BOC collectors is Port of Manila District collector and customs spokesperson Atty. Erastus Sandino B. Austria, who was transferred to Port of Davao and was replaced by Collector Guillermo Pedro A. Francia IV.
The country’s premier port, the Port of Manila is now under Collector Arsenia C. Ilagan while former POM District Collector Atty. Ma. Rhea M. Gregorio is now the new District Collector of the Port of San Fernando La Union.
Atty. Ruby Claudia M. Alameda takes the reign as Acting District Collector of the Port of Clark, while Atty. Micheal D.C. Vargas is designated as Acting District Collector, Port of Limay. Atty. Francis T. Tolibas and Atty. Lilibeth Sandag are reassigned as Acting District Collector of the Port of Tacloban and NAIA Deputy Collector for Operations, respectively.
Atty. Romalino G. Valdez is new District Collector of the Port of Batangas, while Atty. Charlito Martin R. Mendoza was designated as acting District Collector of the Port of Cebu and the new Batangas Deputy Collector for Assessment is Atty. Edward R. Ibera.
During the turnover ceremony, Guerrero said “graft and corruption in the Bureau involves not only BOC personnel but also those transacting business with the agency. And it continues to exist because it is tolerated by unscrupulous individuals.”
The BOC chief encouraged all BOC personnel and stakeholders to expose, report and file cases against corrupt employees, importers, brokers, fixers and other entities involved in smuggling, bribery, illegal drugs and other illegal activities.
Despite the numerous challenges faced by the Bureau, it never wavered in its determination and commitment to perform its mandated tasks to increase revenue collection, to comply with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to stop corruption and to help boost the country’s global trade competitiveness.
