Ex-AFP chief named to BOC

MANILA, Philippines - The revamp at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is underway, with another retired military officer joining the agency to become the deputy commissioner for intelligence and enforcement.

The post to be assumed by retired Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Jessie Dellosa is a merger of the positions of resigned deputy commissioner for intelligence Danny Lim and deputy commissioner for enforcement Horacio Suansing Jr. 

Four other individuals endorsed by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, whose department has jurisdiction over the BOC, are expected to take over the posts of other deputy commissioners.

The Presidential Management Staff released the names of Purisima’s nominees to Customs, coursed through the office of Undersecretary Michael Frederick Musngi of the Office of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

Customs deputy commissioners Peter Manzano and Juan Lorenzo Tañada are expected to be replaced by National Tax Research Center (NTRC) executive director Trinidad Rodriguez and Department of Budget and Management director Myrna Chua, respectively. 

The NTRC is also under the finance department.

Manzano handles revenue collection monitoring while Tañada – a cousin of former House deputy speaker Lorenzo Tañada III – handles internal administration. 

Two others - Primo Aguas and Agaton Teodoro Uvero – have been endorsed by Purisima to replace Ma. Caridad Manarang of management information system and technology and Prudencio Reyes Jr. of the assessment and operations coordinating group, respectively.

Suansing is a relative of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Reyes is reportedly being backed by the Iglesia ni Cristo.

Uvero – a licensed Customs broker – is a lawyer of forwarders and legal director of the Port Users Confederation. He is a law partner of Leonides David, a former officer of the Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc.

Uvero is a former law partner of Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard Mosquera.

Uvero is also reportedly close to former Customs chief Angelito Alvarez, who has ties with Purisima and businessman Bert Lina of Air21, reportedly a donor in the 2010 campaign of then presidential candidate Benigno Aquino III.  Purisima, Alvarez and Lina have been partners in companies such as logistics firm 2GO. Alvarez was president of Lina’s Air21 cargo shipment.

No new appointment has been announced for Danny Lim, whose resignation was accepted by the President.

Lim headed the Army’s Scout Ranger Regiment and figured in a coup attempt against Corazon Aquino in 1989.