'Porsche' clerk resigns from BOC

MANILA, Philippines - The controversial Porsche-driving Customs clerk has tendered his resignation, Commissioner Rufino Biazon revealed yesterday.

Biazon said Paulino Elevado submitted his letter of resignation, dated Feb. 21, to the Bureau of Customs-Internal Administration Group (BOC-IAG) on Wednesday.

Elevado reportedly did not state the reason for his decision to leave the bureau but Biazon believes that he might have decided to resign after learning of the moves to suspend him.

Biazon explained the suspension letter was in response to the move of the Department of Finance’s anti-corruption unit Revenue Integrity Protection Service to file administrative and criminal charges against Elevado.

But Biazon has yet to accept the resignation of Elevado, taking into account his entitlement to benefits.

“I would still have to see the circumstances if it would have any effect on the case we filed against him,” Biazon said.

Biazon said he is also waiting for the results of the investigation being conducted by the IAG on whether administrative charges should be filed against Elevado.

“Let us go by the objective. My objective is to charge him with whatever else I can charge him. The IAG will advise me, in light of this recent development, on what else can we do,” he added.

When asked if they would still be able to keep track of Elevado once he leaves the bureau, Biazon replied, “that is where the criminal case against him comes in. I just hope that the process in the criminal case would be swift.”

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier filed attempted murder charges against Elevado for firing his gun at the vehicle that was being driven at that time by a 20-year-old student last Jan. 21. He also reportedly beat up the student.