NEWLY appointed Customs Commissioner Alberto D. Lina on Wednesday gave hints that a major reshuffle is in the offing at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), as part of his promise to continue the reforms that his predecessor had instituted to improve collections and end smuggling activities.
This came after Deputy Commissioner Primo B. Aguas reportedly resigned as head of the Management Information Systems and Technology Group. A BOC source said Aguas resigned on April 20, the day former Commissioner John P. Sevilla announced in a news conference that he was resigning.
“Depcom Primo Aguas’s last day is today. But his resignation is not related to Commissioner Sunny Sevilla’s resignation,” the source said.
Aside from Aguas, it was also reported that Deputy Commissioner Edita Z. Tan, who heads the agency’s Revenue Collection and Monitoring Group, is considering leaving the BOC following Sevilla’s resignation.
Both Tan and Aguas belong to the so-called reformists at the BOC.
Lina told reporters that the performance review of all Customs port collectors and other personnel of the BOC is now ongoing.
“That is always a possibility because even in other agencies, you can’t stay in your position for three years. Even in the private sector, for internal control purposes, the people are being reshuffled, maybe even in the media,” Lina said when asked about the possibility of a reshuffling of BOC personnel.
Among the BOC officials whose qualifications and performance are being evaluated is lawyer Teddy Raval, head of the BOC’s Intellectual Property Rights Division.
Lina said Raval’s transfer to the Enforcement and Security Service would depend on the outcome of the ongoing assessment of his qualifications. “If he is qualified to the post why not? He is a lawyer. There is a committee that is reviewing that,” Lina said.
Lina to divest stakes in 6 firms
Meanwhile, to quell the issue of conflict of interest raised against him, Lina announced that he would be divesting his shares in six firms within the 60-day period prescribed under the law.
“I resigned from all my positions as chairman, even those which are not dealing with the BOC,” he said.
Lina was referring to the Lina Group of Companies, which he chairs, such as logistics firm Air21, U-Freight Inc., E-Konek, U-Ocean Inc., LGC Logistics and 2100 Customs Brokers.
He added that he will also step down as independent director of the Philippine Airlines.
Lina said his wife and children will also divest their interest in companies dealing with the BOC as required under the law.