Biazon vows to meet revenue target

Manila, Philippines -  The Bureau of Customs (BOC) vows to hit its revenue goal this year despite the controversy hounding the bureau, particularly the deeply embedded corruption and rampant illegal activities of smuggling syndicate.

BOC commissioner Ruffy Biazon said that he would improve the tainted image of the bureau by eradicating those involved in irregularities and trying to orchestrate a demolition job against him.

“Dito ko isusulong ang Matuwid na Landas na adhikain ni Pangulong Aquino, malaki ang maitutulong sa akin ng bagong tatag na Task Force React upang mapuksa ang talamak na katiwalian,” Biazon said.

It was learned that since his assumption into office, Biazon embarked on effective measures and policies to improve efficiency in revenue collection and system control that resulted in the confiscation of smuggled and misdeclared items worth billions of pesos.

With the intensified crackdown on sacred cows, some of them were former officials of the bureau whose illegal businesses were affected, the ouster or removal of Biazon in the bureau floated and is allegedly financed by a smuggling syndicate that was hit by the created task force.

Insiders at the BOC said that smuggling syndicates were spending millions of pesos just to make sure that Biazon’s ouster from the bureau would push through even as the Chief Executive had already announced that he still trust the leadership of the commissioner.

President Aquino appointed Biazon as head of the bureau because of his good record in serving his constituents in Muntinlupa City as lone congressional representative.

The President is confident that Biazon will improved BOC operations and collections even as many of those affected in Biazon campaign against corruption are trying to oust him from the bureau.