BOC chief: No special treatment for pols

MANILA, Philippines - No more special treatment.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) under new Commissioner John Sevilla has promised to henceforth treat politicians like ordinary citizens.

Sevilla said that while it “would depend on what favors” politicians would ask from him or the BOC, chances are they would be given “equal treatment,” just like ordinary people.

“Whether it is a politician, friend or an ordinary person who has interaction with the bureau, it is necessary that equal treatment be given because we are here to serve everyone,” Sevilla said.

So far during his first week in office, Sevilla said he has not received any calls from politicians seeking favors. Last July, the BOC gained public attention after then deputy commissioner for intelligence retired general Danilo Lim bared that “powerful forces” interfered with the bureau’s operations. There were reportedly instances when people in power would call up the BOC and request for the release of a smuggled shipment.

Former BOC deputy commissioner Juan Lorenzo Tañada also disclosed that he had encounters with the “powerful forces.”

Senators, congressmen and people claiming to be relatives of top government officials would call him to lobby for the employment and promotion of someone from the BOC.

However, up until they left the bureau, Lim and Tañada never identified even one powerful person that allegedly meddled in the operations of the BOC.

The BOC Intelligence Group has reshuffled some of its key personnel.

In an order issued by Sevilla, Intelligence Chief Richard Rebong was replaced by Rolando Sacramento. Rebong was one of the BOC officials transferred to the newly created Customs Policy and Research Office at the Department of Finance.

At the Intellectual Property Rights Division, lawyer Czae Carrie de Guzman was replaced by Teddy Sandy Raval. De Guzman was reassigned to the office of Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Jessie Dellosa, along with Christopher Bolastig of the Risk Management Office.

Former military officer Alejandro Estomo was designated as acting director of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS).

Other personnel moved were Jerry Loresco to the Investigation Division, Verne Enciso as CIIS officer-in-charge at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Alexander Atienza at the Port of Manila, and Bienvenido Rubio at the Manila International Container Port.