Bureau of Customs reshuffle looming


MANILA, Philippines — A major shakeup among Bureau of Customs (BoC) officials is looming in 2012, to keep them on their toes and avoid familiarity with their assignments.
Customs Chief Ruffy Biazon on Monday said a reshuffle of district collectors, Customs intelligence, and enforcement operatives will be implemented on the first few months of the new year.

“In the first quarter of 2012, we will have our rigodon. The targets will be a consideration,” Biazon said.
He said the primary reason for the revamp is to find the right man for the right post, to improve collection and finally hit their monthly targets—without miss.
He stressed that the shakeup is not a punishment but more of a challenge for Customs officials to outdo themselves this time around.
Other factors include work attitude and ability to abide by the directives from the Office of the Commissioner.
The BoC is being saddled by revenue collection problems–a situation that also beset Biazon’s predecessor, Angelito Alvarez.
Biazon, who took over in September, is also being dogged by less than satisfactory revenue collection and has gotten a reprieve from the Department of Finance.
Based on several interviews with BoC sources, among the major ports to be affected are the Manila International Container Port (MICP), Port of Manila (POM), Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and Cebu.
Sources claimed that MICP collector Ricardo Belmonte is being eyed for the PoM, with present PoM collector Rogel Gatchalian moving down south in Cebu.
Cebu collector Ronnie Silvestre is reportedly moving up north for the MICP assignment.
NAIA collector Carlos So is allegedly to be replaced by former MICP collector Adelina Molina. So’s new posting is not known yet.
Sources also said that Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Investigation Chief Dino Tuazon is eyeing the CIIS directorship.
He reportedly has the backing of the Office of the Commissioner and the DoF.
Also eyeing the CIIS directorship are Rolando Sacramento, Simplicio Domingo of Legal Service, collector Anju Castigador and Butch Mercado, an outsider.
“Everybody is a contender until the appointment is announced,” Tuazon said, when sought for a comment regarding his advantage over the other candidates.
The shake-up could include the transfer of Bienvenido Rubio, head of the CIIS unit in the PoM to the Customs Risk Management Office. He will be replaced reportedly by Mark Paras at PoM, sources said.
At the Enforcement and Security Service, the post of Major Ramon Policarpio as PoM District Commander may be in peril.
Part of the revamp also includes the designation of Marissa Galang of the MICP to the Port of Clark, and the transfer of CIIS Special Operations Head Eric Albano and his assistant Mitchell Verdeflor to Northern Luzon and Zamboanga, 

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