The Philippine Online Chronicles

President Benigno Aquino III has named shipping businessman Lito Alvarez as the new commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Alvarez, who has recently resigned as chairperson of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), is a top executive of Philippine-based shipping company Airfreight 2100 (Air21), a subsidiary of Federal Express.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Alvarez was a former colleague of current Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima at the auditing firm SGV and Co. and was also a colleague of former Customs commissioner Bert Lina, who is the owner of Air 21.

Guillermo Parayno, Jr. was tentatively appointed by Mr. Aquino as Customs chief.

Parayno's appointment was met with criticism, as the former Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue chief was a shareholder of information technology sub-contractor E-Konek, which reportedly has existing contracts with the BOC—an alleged case of conflict of interest.

The Daily Tribune columnist Louie Lagarta has also expressed the same concern on the appointment of Alvarez.

“The appointment of Alvarez as Customs commissioner has been deemed inappropriate because he is a top official of a corporation that derives its income from doing business with Customs, in securing the release of importations principally from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, aside from operating a huge Customs bonded warehouse that is located right beside the NAIA Terminal 1 facility,” Lagarta alleges.

Parayno meanwhile has been appointed Finance undersecretary for revenue generation.