Caringal stays on as Subic Customs head

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — It’s final. Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales has ordered District Collector VI Grace Caringal to stay on as the district collector of the Port of Subic.

Despite Morales’ order, former Subic district collector Andres Salvacion still holds office at building 303, adjacent to where Caringal is holding her own.

The controversy over the position began last March 29 when the Office of the Customs Commissioner ordered a reshuffle of district collectors across the country, assigning Salvacion to Cebu.

Last Monday, however, Salvacion returned here to reclaim his old position as Subic district collector.

Sowing confusion, Caringal said Salvacion circulated a memorandum that all documents and transactions that require the signature and approval of the district collector should pass through his office.

Salvacion claimed that pursuant to Morales’ April 10 memorandum, he was officially re-assuming the post of Subic district collector.

Caringal said she has "no quarrel" with Salvacion, adding that following the reshuffle last March, "he himself turned over the reins of the Port of Subic office to me."

"That only means that he accepted me as the new district collector of Subic," she added.

Caringal said Salvacion’s memorandum could indeed sow confusion among Customs employees here and those who transact with her office.

Salvacion has reportedly raised the issue to the Olongapo City regional trial court.

The STAR tried to get Salvacion’s side but failed.