Lapeña reshuffles customs officials

October 9, 2017

Eight district collectors and 30 section chiefs of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have been relieved from their posts following the earlier pronouncement of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña that he will be relieving any officer who will disregard his order to stop corruption and benchmarking in their respective ports.

The district collectors who were axed from their post are: Elvira Cruz of Port of Cebu; Romeo Rosales of Port of San Fernando; Julius Premediles of Port of Limay; Jose Naig of Port of Iloilo; Carmelita Talusan of Port of Subic; Divina Garrido of Port of Legazpi; Halleck Valdez of Port of Zamboanga; and Tomas Alcid of Port of Aparri, the Bureau of Customs said in a statement on Monday.

The Customs Personnel Order (CPO) indicating relief from their offices has been released and dates back to October 4.

In separate CPOs dated September 27, section chiefs, 30 in all, from the Formal Entry Divisions of the Port of Manila (POM) and Manila International Container Port (MICP) were also removed from their posts and reassigned to various provincial collection districts of the Bureau.

The respective FED assistant chiefs of the said two ports were designated as acting chiefs following the major revamp.

Meanwhile, some officials from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) which Lapeña previously headed has joined him.

Lapeña, in recent past, said that he will be bringing his trusted people in PDEA to help him implement reforms in the agency.

Some officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have assumed posts in the Bureau of Customs.

Melvin Estoque from PDEA Regional Office VII is now the chief of the Account Management Office which is in charge of accrediting importers.

Director Jeoffrey Tacio from PDEA Regional Office I have been assigned as the officer in charge of the bureau's Import Assessment Service (IAS).  IAS monitors all import values of the goods taken into the country to prevent instances of undervaluation.

PDEA Regional Office IV-B Director lawyer Jacquelyn L. De Guzman is the new officer in charge of the Administration Office. DMS