The Philippine Online Chronicles

Malacanang Palace has maintained that it was lackluster performance, not a conspiracy, behind the dismissal of Commissioner Angelito Alvarez from the Bureau of Customs (BoC).

In a phone interview, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that, “Certainly 'yung performance talaga 'yan. 'Yun naman po ang tinitingnan ng Pangulo and 'yung merit naman po ang kino-consider.”

Alvarez allegedly said that people involved in smuggling activities, who were affected by the anti-smuggling campaign he spearheaded, might have conspired to remove him as BoC chief.

'Yung mga smugglers well entrenched 'yan, ang dami nilang access. Kaibigan ng kaibigan, maaaring merong nakakapagbulong, posible 'yun e,” Alvarez said at Unang Hirit.

Alvarez also said in a Punto por Punto interview that “disinformation” may have prompted President Benigno Aquino III to remove him from his post.

“Kung matatandaan 'yung malalaking kaso, maaaring nagdamdam siya sa Bigcas case. But this happened before I assumed the position,” he said.

He also pointed out other reasons including his alleged failure to close down the 168 mall in Divisoria and the revenue lost due to the disappearance of 2,000 container vans.

The outgoing BOC chief said he does not understand why his performance would cause his removal despite the systemic reforms and campaigns against smuggling that he implemented during his service.

“I could not understand what they meant when they said that performance was the reason. But then at the end of the day, maybe the President wanted a different style, which he did not see in me, and I cannot question that. I respect his decision,” he said.

The President has confirmed the removal of Alvarez in BoC while declining to drop names of who will be replacing the position, "Pinangako ko kasi sa pagpapalit d'yan na bibigyan ko ng konting espasyo ang ating nakausap at inaasahang ... aayusin iyang Customs. 'Di ko muna siya tutukuyin dahil ito na raw ang mga huling araw ng katahimikan ng buhay niya."

The reported candidates for the post were former Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, Bureau of Corrections chief Gaudencio Pangilinan, former Cagayan Rep. Manuel Mamba, former Camarines Norte Rep. Liwayway Vinzons Chato, and former president of the Chamber of Auto Manufacturers of the Philippines Elizabeth Lee.

Valte said that Malacanang has many expectations of the person will replace Alvarez.

“Unti-unti pong lilinisin 'yung mga hindi magandang sistema sa Customs and of course, being a revenue-generating agency, gusto natin is kung hindi man makamit 'yung target ay bubukod ng very, very little,” she said. “Kailangan natin talaga 'yung revenue na nanggagaling d'yan sa BoC.”

Mixed reactions

Some lawmakers lauded the President's decision to oust Alvarez in the BoC.

“As chief of the Bureau, it is supposedly his command responsibilities to prevent these things to happen although we cannot point him as the culprit,” said Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rus Rodriguez.

Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay commented, “It is high time that the President made the decision because if we were going to leave it to Alvarez to resign, he will not do it. I am relieved that the President has finally opened his eyes to the realities of the bureau.”

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson said, “Nanghihinayang ako na pinalitan siya dahil alam ko tinutupad niya ‘yong kanyang tungkulin at mahusay naman ang pagganap niya sa kanyang tungkulin.

'Beware of the Friday 3 pm habit'

Lacson advised the next BoC commissioner to watch out for the “reunions” of corrupt officials and employees every Friday at 3 pm “somewhere in the pier.”

He said that officials and employees gather to collect the bribes from businessmen “who want to expedite the release of their imports.”

“This is the reason why it is difficult to get in touch with most custom officials on Fridays. All roads lead to the pier just so they can collect their share in this form of institutionalized corruption,” Lacson said.

However, Lacson noted that by “institutionalized” he means that “it is not necessarily 100% of the workforce.” The senator reveals that there are “package deals” that allow the containers to leave the port area without an inspection.

“Do you realize how many containers enter the ports of the entire country in a day? About 2,000 to 3,000 containers! If the corrupt people earn P5,000 or even just P2,000 for each container, imagine how many zeroes those add up to,” the senator added.