THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has reshuffled two senior officials, installing Director III Jeoffrey Tacio as the new head of its intelligence arm amid heightened scrutiny over alleged smuggling and misconduct involving some bureau personnel.
Under a Customs Personnel Order dated Sept. 15 signed by Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, Tacio was transferred from the Commissioner’s Strategic Advisory Office to the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service–Intelligence Group (CIIS-IG).
Director III Thomas Narcise, who previously headed the CIIS-IG, was moved to the Commissioner’s Strategic Advisory Office.
The order took effect immediately.
This reshuffle comes as the BOC confronts renewed scrutiny over its intelligence and enforcement operations, particularly following the controversial Aug. 19 confrontation between Customs personnel and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) during an operation at a warehouse in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
The HPG subsequently filed a complaint against two BOC personnel over their alleged connection to the Bulacan incident. According to an affidavit cited in the complaint, BOC Special Agent Lucky Joy Solmayor and Technical Support Staff Alexander Arroyo Jr. were identified among those at the warehouse. The allegations are being investigated.
The incident prompted Nepomuceno to order an internal investigation.
The BOC has said the probe is intended to establish the facts and determine whether any personnel violated the law or abused their authority.
Nepomuceno assured the public that the agency would give full attention to the complaint filed by the PNP-HPG and submit its findings to Ejercito, who has been pressing for a deeper examination of alleged irregularities within the bureau.
“There will be no sacred cows during my term as BOC commissioner,” he said.
Nepomuceno said he also replaced many Customs personnel at the Port of Subic, including the police and intelligence chiefs, to ensure they could not influence the investigation.
"In my opinion, there were clear lapses, even extending to the condemnation [disposal] process. If any condemnation officials are listening, they are included in the charges," Nepomuceno said.
