Ruffy: 'Di makapal ang mukha ko'

MANILA, Philippines - Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Rufino "Ruffy" Biazon said Tuesday that he has taken back his offer of resignation to President Benigno Aquino III.

"Sabi niya, nauunawaan daw niya ang hirap ng trabaho ko, nananatili ang kanyang kumpiyansa," Biazon said in an interview over dzMM radio, translating President Aquino's SMS reply to his offer of resignation minutes after the State of the Nation Address on Monday.

In a statement posted on his Facebook account on Monday night, the BOC chief said that he was thankful that President Aquino is aware of the big task of reforming the agency.

"I am thankful that the President acknowledges the difficulties in pushing for reform in BOC. Although I did not ask for this post in the first place, the opportunity to do reform in one of the most difficult agencies in government was one challenge that I readily took on," he said.

He said that he is prepared to resign "without shedding a tear" to keep his "dignity," "honor," and "clear conscience" in having done his job well.

"Although as of now I remain in the post, all of these I have to absorb and process. Do I give up the fight in the name of delicadeza? Or do I stay on armed with the confidence of the president that I can do the task assigned to me? ... One thing I can say for sure. I am ready to lose the position without shedding a tear," he said.

In a televised press conference, Biazon said he immediately offered his resignation after feeling shame.

"Ako nakaramdam ng hiya, dahil hindi naman ako makapal ang mukha, agad-agad akong nagbigay ng pahayag na nag-alok ng pagbibitiw," Biazon said.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Aquino chided three government agencies including the BOC for the supposed incompetence and corruption that remain in these offices.

Aquino lambasted the BOC, saying its personnel are "trying to outdo each other’s incompetence" as they are "heedlessly permitting" the smuggling of goods and even drugs into the country.

The President reported that according to the Department of Finacne, over 200 billion pesos in revenue slips through the country's borders without going into public coffers.

"Saan po kayo kumukuha ng kapal ng mukha ang mga kawani sa ahensyang ito?," Aquino asked in his SONA.

Biazon announced on Twitter that he sent a text message to Aquino offering his resignation. He said the President replied: "Ruffy you and i know the difficulties of pushing for reforms in your agency. My confidecne in you remains the same."

Asked in the radio interview if he boycotted the SONA, Biazon said that he was not invited to attend the event.

"Walang invitation na dumating sa akin. Pina-check ko pa nga sa secretary at ng House, wala naman daw ako sa listahan ng invited guests," he said.