No truth to relief of Mangaoang from Cebu post

Customs commissioner Alexander Arevalo belied reports that district collector Maria Lourdes Mangaoang will be relieved soon.

He said he even told Mangaoang to stay in Cebu despite suspicions that she may be engaged in graft and corruption for allegedly maintaining a lifestyle impossible to sustain with a government paycheck.

Arevalo, who was in Cebu over the weekend for the 14th meeting of the ASEAN Directors-General of Customs at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City, said that he is satisfied with Mangaoang's performance.

"She will stay in Cebu for as long as she is needed here," Arevalo said.

Reports had it earlier that Mangaoang is already on her way out of Cebu. In fact, the names of collectors Grace Karingal and Andy Salvacion came out to be her possible replacement.

It was, however, observed that the day after Mangaoang assumed her assignment in Cebu, there were already intrigues against her. There were even reports that some congressmen lobbied for her relief from Cebu.

Mangaoang is currently facing investigations for alleged graft before the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission. A Manila-based group filed a complaint on November 8 against Mangaoang for allegedly maintaining a lifestyle impossible to sustain with her salary.

She is also a subject of the lifestyle check by the Revenue Integrity Protection Service of the Department of Finance. - Fred P. Languido