MANILA, Philippines - A third official of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has also submitted his resignation letter after President Benigno Aquino III berated the agency in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
Customs Deputy Customs Commissioner for Internal Administration Group Juan Lorenzo Tañada submitted his resignation letter to Commissioner Ruffy Biazon on Tuesday afternoon.
"Kasunod po ito ng pahayag ng Pangulo...to give him a free hand," Tañada said Wednesday. "Kung hindi na siya masaya sa trabahon natin, definitely po tatabi po tayo na gumawa sa trabaho natin."
He said he would welcome the President's and the BOC leadership's decision on his resignation.
"Defintiely, it's been privilege and honor to be part of this administration. If he (President Aquino) is no longer happy sa trabahon natin...susunod tayo," Tañada said.
Biazon confirmed in an interview with ANC's Headstart earlier that Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Danilo Lim also submitted his letter of resignation to the Office of Executive Paquito Ochoa Jr.
Biazon said the President may reject Lim's resignation or accept it and appoint a replacement
"It's up to the prerogative of the President," said Biazon.
Biazon announced on Twitter that he offered to resign minutes after President Aquino delivered his SONA. The resignation, however, was rejected by the President.
Aquino berated the agency for the alleged corruption and inefficiency among its personnel.
"Instead of collecting the proper taxes and preventing contraband from entering the country, they are heedlessly permitting the smuggling of goods, and even drugs, arms, and other items of a similar nature into our territory," Aquino said in his speech.
He said that according to the Department of Finance, more than P200 billion in revenue slips through the country's borders without going into public coffers.
"Saan po kayo kumukuha ng kapal ng mukha ang mga kawani sa ahensyang ito?" Aquino asked in his speech.