MANILA, Philippines — 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, 2026 and 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, effectively switching the assignments of the two officials.
The reshuffle comes as the BOC faces 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 for 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 as among those at the warehouse. The allegations are currently undergoing investigation and due process.
The incident prompted Nepomuceno to order an internal investigation. The BOC has said the probe was intended to establish the facts and determine whether any personnel violated the law or abused their authority.
Following the Bulacan warehouse controversy, Senator JV Ejercito independently urged Nepomuceno to intensify efforts to purge the bureau—especially its intelligence arm—and dismiss any personnel implicated in corruption or misconduct.
Nepomuceno has maintained that credible allegations against Customs personnel will be investigated and that anyone found to have violated the law will face appropriate action. The commissioner has also defended the bureau’s enforcement and collection performance while acknowledging that complaints and feedback must be taken seriously.
The latest personnel changes place Tacio at the helm of the CIIS-IG, as the bureau seeks to strengthen intelligence operations while investigations into alleged misconduct and smuggling-related activities continue.
Nepomuceno assured 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,” Nepomuceno said, vowing to personally pursue anyone found engaged in illegal activities, adding that the BOC has entrusted to the leadership of the PNP and DILG, along with the HPG, to conduct the investigation into what happened in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
According to Nepomuceno, he also replaced many customs personnel at the Port of Subic, including the police and intelligence chiefs, to ensure that they coiulkd not influence the investigation.
