More soldiers joining Bureau of Customs

MANILA, Philippines — Customs chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero has recommended two of his former classmates in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) as deputy commissioners of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Erastus Sandino Austria, BOC spokesman, confirmed at yesterday’s flag-raising ceremony that Guerrero has endorsed the appointment of retired Lt. Gen. Donato San Juan and retired Brigadier General Raniel Ramiro to the posts.

Guerrero, San Juan and Ramiro belong to PMA Class 1984.

A source said the two have already assumed the posts – San Juan as the acting deputy commissioner for Internal Administration Group replacing Gladys Rosales and Ramiro as acting deputy commissioner for Intelligence Group replacing Ricardo Quinto.

Rosales and Quinto were among those who were brought in by former Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña when he was transferred from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to the BOC on Aug. 30, 2017. 

President Duterte earlier ordered all of the BOC’s department heads “out” of the agency and that the military would assume their functions. He also ordered the Philippine Coast Guard to provide security at the periphery.  

During the turnover ceremonies, Guerrero denied the militarization of the BOC, saying the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would only play a supporting role in running the bureau.  

“Let us correct the impression that there would be a militarization of the BOC. There will be personnel from the AFP that would support the BOC but that does not mean that the BOC would be taken over by the military because clearly I’m a civilian and I am the head of the agency,” he had said.