Manifesto supporting Customs collector not telling the truth?

Former Cebu Customs district collector David Odilao Jr. yesterday described the published manifesto issued by an association of Customs brokers in Cebu in support of Customs district collector Lourdes Mangaoang as not telling the truth.

Odilao said the manifesto was not being truthful about Mangaoang's performance for the first eight months in office, backing his allegation with a copy of the bureau's monthly collection report, signed by Condrado Abarintos, chief of the collection section.

The alleged report showed that since August of last year until February of this year, the bureau failed to hit its target collections.

Odilao said the bureau only reached its target collection in May last year when Mangaoang assumed office but the credit ought to go to her predecessor, the former collector Roger Lim.

The report showed that the August collection missed the target collection by P12,144,613. Again, in January this year, the bureau's target was P336,000.00 but it collected only P309,000, as the report indicated.

The Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. and Professional Customs Brokers Association of the Philippines released the manifesto of support and had it published in The Freeman and in another local daily. Odilao said the publication of the manifesto surprised him. There was no proper consultation, he said.

Among other things, the manifesto stated that Mangaong "stands prominent as the `First-ever' District Collector of Customs of Cebu who keeps open her office for consultation and dialogues."

"With her leadership," the manifesto said "Mangaong effectively brings tariff and customs administration nearest to the governed."

"Notwithstanding Herculean odds," it further said, "Mangaong consistently attains, even fairly surpasses revenue collection targets."

They asked Finance Secretary Margarito O. Teves to set aside the plan to replace her.

On the other hand, Odilao denied insinuations that his stand against Mangaong has something to do with her alleged refusal to accommodate his son for a position at the bureau.

He said the accusations are baseless and untrue. - Jose P. Sollano