CEBU, Philippines - Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Cebu Deputy Collector for Assessment Lourdes Mangaoang is assuming as Cebu port officer-in-charge (OIC) even when there is no order formally designating her.
“There is no need for a Customs Personnel Order (CPO) for me to assume the position. Because it is very clear from the memorandum of the Finance Secretary that said that the most senior next-in- rank shall assume as officer in charge,†she told The FREEMAN.
Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon has earlier issued a memorandum directing the country’s 27 collectors with ranks of Collector V and VI to report to the Customs Policy Research Office in the Department of Finance (DOF), in effect placing them on “floating†status.
He then designated Mactan Sub-port Collector Paul Alcazaren and 16 others as OICs of the different ports of the country.
In response, Mangaoang and 13 other collectors petitioned the courts for a declaratory relief and were granted a three-day temporary restraining order (TRO) against the memorandum last Oct. 1. The other day, the court granted the collectors another TRO, this time lasting 17 days.
She has written Biazon informing him that since she is currently the highest ranking officer at the BOC-Cebu, she would assume the duties and responsibilities as Cebu port OIC.
Collector V Mangaoang, a lawyer, said her move is meant to prevent disruption in port operations and in compliance with Biazon’s directive CPO No. B-143-2013.
She said that Biazon naming Alcazaren as OIC district collector in Cebu port is a violation of the Comelec ban on transfer and designation of officials during the election period.
She also said that pursuant to existing Civil Service rules and regulations, which states that only division chiefs and holders of third level positions could be reassigned to third level position of collector III with a salary grade of 23, Alcazaren is not qualified to take the post.
“Atty. Alcazaren could not be classified as a division chief, which has a salary grade of 24, and only holders of third level positions could assume the duties and responsibilities of third level employees like those occupied by collectors V and VI,†she said.
She further said that Biazon’s memorandum elevating Alcazaren as Cebu port OIC was not approved by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, whose permission is required under Section 2307 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, (TCCP).
“Thus, it (Alcazaren’s appointment) is not valid. Willful disregard of the said provision of the TCCP could likewise make you administratively liable under the Civil Service and Anti-graft laws and criminally liable under the TCCP,†Mangaoang said in her memorandum to Biazon.
She also informed Biazon that former Customs Cebu district collector Edward dela Cuesta has already returned to his mother unit to assume his plantilla position in Manila in accordance with CPO No. 143-2013, which Purisima approved.
On the other hand, Collector Ricardo Belmonte, who was supposed to serve as OIC district collector in Cebu, has already started doing his duties and responsibilities at the DOF.
In an earlier interview, Alcazaren said he is willing to step down anytime the moment he would receive a new CPO for him to relinquish his post and go back to his original assignment as Mactan sub-port collector.
Alcazaren assumed as OIC district collector in Cebu last Monday. — /RHM (FREEMAN)