BOC starts revamp, probes ports mess

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

THE Bureau of Customs started reshuffling its key officials  in northern Mindanao as it started looking into the release of over a hundred container vans from ports allegedly without proper documents.

Bobbyjam Gagambino, assistant chief of the customs bureau’s public information division,  yesterday revealed that the revamp affected the customs collectors at the Mindanao International Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, and at the ports of Iligan and Ozamiz.

Gagambino said Customs Collector Isidro Lapeña Jr. replaced port collectors Samson Pacasum of MICT in Tagoloan town, John Simon in Iligan City, and Roswald Pague of Ozamiz City.

Gagambino said among those being investigated are Pacasum, Bernie Solas, Wilbur Hal Villanueva, Roberto Garcia and Ma. Chona Sarte.

But Gagambino said Simon and Pague are not among those being investigated, and their removal was part of a nationwide revamp ordered this July 11.

Gagambino said the revamp also affected a number of the officials’ subordinates, including division chiefs.

At least 12 of those being investigated served in the international container terminal in Tagoloan, he said.

Lapeña’s decision was approved by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, he said.

“Ang toyo sa maong reshuffling aron hatagag dalan ang mga investigators  ni Commissioner Lapeña to investigate port officials and their division chiefs,  ug kadtong mga official nga subject sa investigation, dili sila maka-inpluwensiya sa maong investigation,” Gagambino said.

Pacasum was replaced by Floro Calixian who served as deputy collector in Pampanga while Simon was replaced by Elsa Rebosa. Pague was replaced by Laureana Gaite.

He said at least 20 customs officials were being investigated in connection with the questionable release of container vans.

A July 16 report by the Manila Bulletin showed that some 110 container vans slipped out of the international port in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental alone since February.

Gagambino said Lapeña formed a 12-person panel to investigate the customs officials and their subordinates based on a report submitted by district collector Jamail Marohomsalic who discovered the questionable release of many container vans from the ports.