BUREAU of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno on Wednesday sought to end speculation about his tenure, saying the agency has received no official directive from Malacañang ordering a change in leadership.
In a statement issued Nov. 11, Nepomuceno said he remains firmly at the helm of the bureau and is focused on continuing its anti-smuggling campaign, border protection operations, trade facilitation and revenue collection.
“The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has not received any official directive from Malacañang regarding any change in its leadership,” he said.
The statement comes amid renewed reports of a possible leadership shake-up at the bureau, with speculation in October about replacing Nepomuceno and other senior officials.
The uncertainty also revives memories of a February controversy, when a purported appointment document circulating online suggested that Nepomuceno had been replaced.
Malacañang subsequently dismissed the document as fake, denied plans to replace him, and said the matter would be referred to the National Bureau of Investigation for investigation.
Despite the leadership speculation, Nepomuceno has continued to push the bureau's modernization and digitalization programs, alongside an internal campaign against corruption and misconduct.
More than 30 Customs personnel, including senior officials, middle managers and rank-and-file employees, have reportedly been dismissed as part of the agency's disciplinary drive.
The BOC has also reported increased revenue collections, with its January-to-October 2026 collections exceeding last year's comparable figure by P69 billion despite a decline in imports.
In Wednesday's statement, Nepomuceno emphasized that the bureau would sustain its aggressive campaign against smuggling to prevent illegal drugs, unsafe products, and other illicit goods from entering the country.
He also vowed to pursue reforms to improve transparency and accountability, ease business transactions for legitimate importers and exporters, and facilitate lawful trade.
The commissioner stressed that proper assessment and collection of duties and taxes remain essential in financing government operations, infrastructure projects, and public services.
"The work continues, the reforms continue, and the Bureau remains focused on delivering results that strengthen border security, support legitimate trade, generate revenues for national development, and improve the lives of Filipinos," he said.
Nepomuceno's statement effectively signals that he intends to continue carrying out his mandate unless an official directive from the Palace says otherwise.
