It’s unfortunate that a government official like Customs Commissioner John Philip Sevilla, who was doing his job and doing it well, is forced to resign because he can no longer accommodate the demands of politicians. It’s even more unfortunate that this sort of problem exists under an administration that is supposedly following the straight path of good governance.
The resignation of Sevilla should remind Filipinos that their politicians, despite their patriotic blather, often do not work in the best interests of their own country. Why would politicians be pressuring the Customs commissioner to look favorably on certain businessmen at all, as if they did not know that what they are doing is sabotaging the economy by allowing the collection of less taxes and duties?
It stands to reason that by allowing Sevilla to resign, Malacañang has decided to take the side of the people who he said made his life difficult when he was still head of Customs. And it’s also logical that the politicians that Sevilla railed against see, in his replacement, someone who will be more willing to do what they want done.
Sevilla’s resignation doesn’t jibe with President Noynoy Aquino’s oft-declared commitment to the daang matuwid, that much is plain. In particular, Aquino’s decision to let go of Sevilla doesn’t go well with his condemnation of the corruption in the bureau, which he made in a State of the Nation Address.
In fact, Sevilla was appointed by Aquino soon after he accused Customs officials of having “thick faces” that were immune to attempts to reform the corruption-riddled bureau. And under Sevilla’s watch, Customs collections actually improved, a clear indication that he was doing his job.
But alas, Sevilla must have quickly realized that the anti-corruption rhetoric of the Aquino administration does not apply to Customs, which is traditionally a source of funding for political campaigns by elected officials with ties to the government in power. Sevilla said he noticed that he had been receiving more and more calls and text messages from powerful politicians seeking favors for their importer-friends – and dropping the name of Aquino when they do the favor-seeking, no doubt – as the elections approach.
That Sevilla quit is an indication that Aquino overruled his own Customs commissioner and sided with the politicians. After all, if the President had sided with Sevilla, then there would be no reason for him to leave or to even complain about being harassed by powerful politicians.
When the desires of politicians take precedence over good governance, you know that Aquino has gotten off the tuwid na daan. It’s that simple.