Customs ‘padrinos’ named

**Retz** · July 27th, 2013 12:34 PM

Customs ‘padrinos’ named

EXECUTIVE Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. were identified as among the personalities acting as “padrinos” or godfathers to some ranking officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) who do not wish to be removed or reassigned somewhere else.

According to a an unimpeachable source of The Manila Times, Ochoa, touted as the “Little President,” and Belmonte, the fourth most powerful official in the country, have been protecting people at the bureau.

Belmonte and Ochoa “are among the government officials who act as power brokers and protectors to ensure that their men at the Bureau of Customs remain in their posts,” the source, whose credibility is beyond question, said.

He noted that Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) Collector Ricardo “Boysie” Belmonte is a brother of the Speaker, while Customs Deputy Commissioner Peter Manzano is Ochoa’s man in the agency.

“There are many in the bureau who have their own backers,” he added.

The source mentioned Customs Intelligence and Investigation Division chief Director Fernandino Tuazon, Deputy Commissioner Horacio Suansing, Deputy Commissioner Prudencio Reyes, Port of Manila Collector Rogel Gatchalian, NAIA District Collector Ding So, X-Ray Division chief Collector Mimi Talusan and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) chief Richard Rebong.

Last January, Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon ordered a reshuffle of officials to include Belmonte and Gatchalian. But the source said the two, who are among the so-called “three kings” at the bureau, have not been dislodged despite failing miserably in curbing corruption and hitting their target collections.

The source said Tuazon also enjoys Ochoa’s protection.

Tuazon is among those being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the controversial 2,000 containers loaded with highly taxable goods worth P2 billion that disappeared on the way from the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port to the Port of Batangas.

But even then, Tuazon got his present post following the retirement of Director Filomeno Vicencio.

Suansing was former Port of Manila collector. He is from Iloilo and a close relative of Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago. Gatchalian is reportedly a protégé of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, while Talusan is related to the Singsons of Ilocos Sur.

Reyes, So and Rebong were reportedly being supported by a powerful religious sect.

Rebong is also one the controversial officials at the bureau. Before his appointment as CIIS chief, he was an “Intelligence Officer 1” with a salary grade of 8.
But Rebong was promoted to CIIS chief with a salary grade 25 or 17 degrees higher.

Last year, the Civil Service Commission issued a decision ousting Rebong as CIIS chief for being “unqualified.” The CSC order has not been carried out.

Source: Customs ?padrinos? named | The Manila Times Online

**chua_riwap** · July 27th, 2013 01:11 PM

sige nga abangan natin kung may mangyayari.

**Manilablock** · July 27th, 2013 03:32 PM

malamang i-CUSTOMize na nila ang partihan para everybody happy

**macsd** · July 27th, 2013 05:56 PM

Everyone in BOC have their pardrinos up to the janitor level. Either politician o from a religious group. The thing i don't understand is why Ruffy "the moron" Biazon keep's on complaining about padrino system when he himself is a product of padrino. Kung hindi ba cya LP, does he think he will be there???

Lumayas kana dyan Ruffy dahil hindi mo kaya ang trabaho o kasama ka rin sa corruption. The fact is hindi mo sila kaya dahil meron din silang tinatagong baho mo.

**macsd** · July 30th, 2013 05:54 PM

" Aquino’s moves in Customs ‘confuse’ Trillanes "

Look at his guy called sen. trillanes. ke haba-haba ng sinabi mag endorse lang pala ng papalit kay Biazon.

**chua_riwap** · July 30th, 2013 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by macsd

" Aquino’s moves in Customs ‘confuse’ Trillanes "

Look at his guy called sen. trillanes. ke haba-haba ng sinabi mag endorse lang pala ng papalit kay Biazon.

naku.....lagi namang confused yang si trillanes........

ano ba sabi, sir? wala yung link eh.

**macsd** · July 31st, 2013 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by chua_riwap

naku.....lagi namang confused yang si trillanes........

ano ba sabi, sir? wala yung link eh.

Sorry for that. It's now in the headline of Inquirer. Kahapon na sa latest news with the last sentence
stating , if Abnoy will ask him, he will endorse Lacson palit kay Biazon.

**K.I.L.L.** · July 31st, 2013 10:03 AM

With the mess at customs, they should just take everyone out and start fresh. Everyone in it is already corrupted at some level and when someone new comes in, even if that person is idealistic and not corrupt, the old dogs will influence him sooner or later. It only takes one rotten apple to start the rot in a basket and the basket that is BOC is rotten to the core by now.