Customs chief Sevilla quits post . At a press conference in Manila on Thursday, April 23, Customs Commissioner John ‘Sunny’ Sevilla announced his resignation several days after reporting that the bureau had increased its revenue collections for the 1st quarter of 2015. Formerly a Department of Finance undersecretary, Sevilla was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III to the bureau’s top post in December 2013, after then-Customs chief Ruffy Biazon resigned. Danny Pata
Following Customs chief John Phillip Sevilla’s resignation, Malacañang admitted Thursday that reforming the bureau is a “big challenge” for the administration.
At a press briefing, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said President Benigno Aquino III, who won on an anti-corruption platform during the 2010 elections, wants reforms in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to continue even after Sevilla’s resignation.
“Ang direktiba po ng Pangulo ay ipagpatuloy ‘yung mga repormang naumpisahan na, ipagpatuloy ‘yung paglaban sa korapsyon,” Coloma told reporters.
“Talagang kinikilala na malaking hamon ito at sa kabila niyan ay kahanga-hanga ‘yung naging performance ni Commissioner Sevilla,” he added.
Coloma particularly said that the administration wants to pursue “institutional strengthening” and further modernization at the BOC.
“Maraming mga sistema na nagbibigay daan doon sa pagpasok ng personal influence. Kaya ang isa sa mga tinukoy diyan ay ‘yung systemic reforms, ‘yung automation, ‘yung pagtitiyak na ‘yung mga transaksyon ay aboveboard sa pamamagitan nga ng mas maayos na sistema ng mga transaksyon diyan,” he said.
Coloma said he has no information yet on Sevilla’s replacement.
Prior to Sevilla, two Customs chiefs under the Aquino administration also resigned: former Rep. Ruffy Biazon, who was tagged in the alleged multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, and Angelito Alvarez, who was also linked to various controversies including vehicle smuggling in Mindanao. — RSJ, GMA News
