Palace exec eyed as new Customs chief

Malacañang External Affairs Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan is among those being considered by President Arroyo to head the Bureau of Customs, Palace sources said yesterday.

Pamintuan, for his part, admitted being included in the "short list" of nominees to replace Customs officer-in-charge Alexander Arevalo.

Pamintuan stressed there is no confirmation yet on the appointment.

"I was told by (Finance) Secretary (Margarito) Teves that my name was included in the shortlist but that does not mean that I’m it," Pamintuan said.

"I’m just one of those being considered," Pamintuan told The STAR. "But I would accept the post if I’m selected."

Pamintuan claimed he had a meeting with Teves about two weeks ago on the issue of who would permanently head the Customs bureau.

Although he admitted he was being considered, Pamintuan stressed he does not know the other nominees for the post.

Pamintuan said he only met Teves when the former lawmaker was the general manager of the National Food Authority (NFA) in 2001 and chairman of the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Pamintuan claimed his name might have been included on the shortlist owing to his performance as a "crisis manager" during the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption as mayor of Angeles City.

Two years after the eruption, Pamintuan boasted he was able to double the city’s revenues despite the pullout of the United States forces and naval bases in the region.

"I gave the people and businesses (in Angeles City) the necessary impetus to pay their taxes and pitch in to allow the city to recover," Pamintuan said.