MANILA, Philippines - Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon announced on Monday night that he offered his resignation immediatley after President Aquino's fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasan Pambansa complex.
"In light of the president's statement regarding BOC, I immediately offered my resignation within minutes after the end of the speech," Biazon announced on his Twitter account @ruffybiazon.
Five minutes after the post, Biazon tweeted President Aquino's reply to his resignation.
President's reply: "RUFFY we both know the difficulties in the agency you are trying to reform. My confidence in you remains the same."
— Ruffy Biazon (@ruffybiazon) July 22, 2013
In his more than one hour SONA, Aquino lashed at agencies for incompetence. Among the agencies he mentioned were the Bureau of Customs, the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Related article: Aquino to erring officials: My patience has run out http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/07/22/1000071/aquino-erring-officials-my-patience-has-run-out
Former NIA administrator Antonio Nangel had resigned after being scolded by the President during the agency's 50th anniversary last June. BI chief Ricardo David, who was appointed to the agency by Aquino after leaving the military service, had also resigned.