Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon explains his plans for the bureau at a press briefing he called after his resignation was rejected by the president.

By Shiela Manalac &  Mayvelin U Caraballo/Manila Times

After having been assured of the continued trust of President Benigno Aquino, Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon yesterday vowed to implement reforms as he announced that a “major shakeup” in the bureau is being finalised by Malacanang and the Finance department.

Biazon, who offered to quit after Aquino lashed out at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, disclosed that he and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima are in the final stages of the plan.

“It is in the offing and it will also surprise everyone as much as those statements given by President Aquino,” Biazon said.

One of the new policies to be implemented is a ban on political endorsements to insulate it from politics. Biazon said this refers to recommendations for specific positions coming from some high-ranking officials in government.

However, Biazon admitted that this policy alone would not resolve the decades-old and deeply-rooted problem of corruption in the agency because Customs personnel who are actually engaged in illegal activities or those in cahoots with smuggling syndicates remain untouched for years.

Nevertheless, he said that with the chief executive’s renewed trust, he would take it as a challenge to undertake major changes in the Bureau no matter who will be affected because of his resolute desire to transform the BOC into a graft-free agency.

“I’m still in,” Biazon said, ending speculations that he will be replaced. “I am ready. ‘Dial-a-friend’ or ‘Call-a-friend’ is not going to work this time around especially with no less than the president who is giving me full support,” the Customs chief declared.

“I have a plan for the bureau, but my stay here is on a day to day basis. I will not shed a tear for this seat, but I will fight for what I believe in,” he added.

He said the prompt response by the president to his offer to resign made him more determined to carry out drastic reforms to eliminate corruption in the agency and altogether crush smuggling.

Biazon said that he has no reason to get hurt over critiques in the bureau, but he did not want to be identified with those “thick-skinned” individuals being criticised by the president. “The Customs is being criticised although I’ve been working. I am not like the others so right there and then, I offered my resignation,” he explained.

When asked if he thinks it was the BOC-Intelligence Group headed by Deputy Commissioner Danilo Lim that the president was trying to hit, Biazon said that he wants to keep his suspicions to himself.

“Is it a fair thing to say these things? We need evidence to support these claims,” he pointed out.

Reacting to the president’s remarks that there has not been any major capture of firearms or drug smugglers, Biazon said that he is “personally on the lookout for drug smuggling” since he has no tolerance for drug-related crimes.

Biazon said his goals in the Bureau include “putting the right people in the right place, completion of the automation system, and change in mindset of the Customs employees.”

He said these changes are necessary to improve the agency’s revenues and services.

In his 20 months of service, Biazon has assessed the performance of all departments in government. He believes that there are “still traces of hope” when it comes to reform, and there are also “second chances” for everyone who wants to bring change. Biazon, in his own blog post that aims to clarify his “resignation,” also admitted that although reforming the BOC was difficult, he took on the challenge motivated by the president’s will and vision to reform the entire government.

“Although the risk that I will just leave the institution frustrated and damaged is great, the prospect of achieving something significant in reforming government gave me the drive to forge ahead,” he said.

In Malacanang, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the president is “very cognisant of the challenges, as well as the limitations, that have faced the Commissioner since the time he was appointed.”

“If we take a step back and we look, is it something that the leader can do alone? Or is it something that he cannot do alone?” Valte said.

“The problem in Customs is not simple—the corruption is entrenched,” she stressed.

The Palace official said that Biazon will stay in the Bureau as long as President Aquino’s confidence in him remains.

Valte said the Customs chief is already implementing measures within the BOC.

“Certainly, there are measures that are going to be undertaken, however, I am not at liberty to discuss those measures now,” she said.