More BOC officials reassigned

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently released the third batch of officials who have been transferred to the Customs Policy Research Office (CPRO) at the Department of Finance.

The third CPRO order became effective after BOC Commissioner Rufino Biazon issued a Customs Personnel Order (CPO) last Nov. 25.

The new directive covered 11 officials, mostly lawyers from the Prosecution and Litigation Division (PLD) and Investigation Division (ID).

Among the officials sent to the CPRO were Eden Ferrer and Javier Crisol Alpano (ID); and Giovanni Leynes, Roberto Sacramento, Balmyrson Valdez, Ricardo Morales, and Ma. Rhea Gregorio (PLD).

Also included were Directors Kissinger Reyes and Ramon Cuyco, Collector 1 Antonio Ferraren, and Filemon Mendoza of the Ruling and Research Division.

There are speculations that this would not be the last batch that would be detailed to the CPRO.

A source yesterday said the succeeding batches would include appraisers and examiners.

“Their replacements are being trained for three months at the ORAM (Office of Revenue Agency Modernization). Before Christmas, it could be implemented,” the source said.

Under Executive Orders 140 and 139, which were both signed by President Aquino, the CPRO and ORAM were created at the DOF.

The ORAM manages reform projects and initiatives at the BOC from planning and implementation to evaluation, while the CPRO works on new legislation and operational policies.

In a separate CPO, Biazon transferred 13 officials from the ORAM to various ports and offices at the bureau.