Bernardo won’t give up BOC post

Customs Commissioner Antonio Bernardo doused cold water yesterday on speculations that he would follow the resignation of his former boss Finance Secretary Isidro Camacho, who resigned last Friday.

"As long as I still have the confidence of the President, I will continue to serve her administration and see the completion of my programs in the Bureau of Customs," Bernardo said.

Bernardo said rumors that he would soon be replaced have been circulating ever since. "I have ignored them as they are counterproductive," he added.

While he does not deny that it was Camacho who was responsible for his appointment as Customs Commissioner, Bernardo said he will stay in his post as long as the President wants him.

He said he is concentrating all his efforts towards surpassing the bureau’s collection target of P100.5 billion for 2003. "I am confident we can easily meet the assigned target," he added.

"So far, so good," Bernardo said when asked about the target, adding that "I am hopeful that we can even surpass it."

He pointed out that the bureau exceeded by more than P5 billion its target for January to July. "This is more than enough to cover any shortfall for the reaming month of December," he said.