Nepomuceno gets assistant commissioner post at BOC

President Duterte has named former Customs Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno as the agency's assistant commissioner.

Official Palace documents released Friday showed the President signed Nepomuceno’s appointment papers on December 7, replacing Ericson Alcovendaz.

Sources at the Customs

said this is the first time that an assistant commissioner is named to the agency

Nepomuceno's new assignment comes a month after Duterte reappointed him deputy commissioner after the Customs official resigned due to corruption allegations.

In August this year, Nepomuceno resigned after Senator PanfiloLacson named him as one of the officials in the Bureau accepting bribes.

Last month, the President reappointed Nepomuceno and other customs officials who were forced to resign over the release of the P6.4 billion drug shipment last May.

According to Malacañang, the reappointment of Nepomuceno and other accused Customs officials means they are innocent of allegations against them.

Last month, Duterte named Teddy Raval as Customs deputy commissioner, along with Nepomuceno.

Duterte also reappointed former BOC Import Assessment Services (IAS) director Milo Maestrecampo as Assistant Director General II of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), replacing Gustavo Atencia. Customs Deputy Commissioner Gerardo Gambalawasappointed Director IV of DOTr's Office for Transportation Security, replacing Roberto Almadin.

Maestrecampo resigned in August after whistle blower Mark Taguba claimed in a House inquiry that he had been giving grease money to a group of IAS officials.

Despite Taguba's clarification that he never bribed nor met Maestrecampo, the former IAS director said it was too late because he was already dragged into the corruption scandal.

Gambala was also included in Lacson's list of Customs officials who allegedly receive bribes. Gambala denied the accusations.

Warning Meanwhile, the intelligence group at the bureau warned the public against individuals posing as customs officials who collect "tara" or grease money from importers.

In a memornadum dated Dec. 7, 2017, Ricardo Quinto, deputy commissioner for intelligence clarified he "has never authorized the use of his name to facilitate transactions with the BOC."

Quinto warned that any person caught doing the illegal activity will be apprehended and charged accordingly.

Quinto said he has been receiving reports that some individuals are using his name or introducing themselves as his close associates "to obtain preferential treatment for importers and facilitates the release of their cargoes."

A certain M. Lazarte and B. Marcelo were named as using the name of Quintoand Director Gilbert Buenafe, the Intelligence Division chief in order to extort money from importers, brokers, and BOC stakeholders.

In a memorandum dated Dec. 5, 2017, Buenafe said any form of collection using their name is unauthorized.

Customs officials urged the public to report to the bureau, specifically to the Office of the Commissioner, any individual or group using the name of any Customs officials in extortion activities attempts. (With a report from BetheenaKae Unite)