Biazon won’t stop other BOC execs from quitting

MANILA, Philippines - With five out of the 27 district collectors already out, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Rufino Biazon yesterday said he would not stop the remaining 22 district collectors from leaving the agency.

He said that it was the personal choice of the district collectors if they still want to stay with the BOC or resign.

Biazon made the comment after five of the 27 district collectors have decided to resign or avail of optional retirement.

Those who have left the BOC were Rogel Gatchalian of the Port of Manila, Carlos So of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, John Tan of Zamboanga and Ronnie Silvestre of Clark. Collector Imelda Cruz had earlier resigned from the bureau.

Gatchalian and So have been branded as “kings” in the bureau because their posts are known to be lucrative and they reportedly enjoy connections from politicians and religious groups that enabled them to stay in their Customs districts.

Biazon said that he has no information if other Customs collectors would leave the bureau.

He assured the BOC officials that if they leave the bureau he would respect their decision.

“I would leave it to their discretion. It is a personal choice by the collectors if they want to resign or not. I will not stop them,” he said.

Biazon added that he would approve all applications for early retirement that the collectors would file.

The BOC chief said he is also optimistic that while some high-ranking officials of the bureau have left the agency, the developments in the BOC would not demoralize the rank and file personnel.

He said the departure of BOC collectors would not disrupt the operations in the ports that are already under the management of officers-in-charge and there are now opportunities for Customs personnel to be promoted to the position of district collector.

The decision of the four collectors, except Cruz, to leave the BOC came after a Manila City regional trial court denied their petition to stop their transfer from their port districts positions to the Customs Policy Research Office.