WHO’S COLLECTOR ELVIRA CRUZ?

Cebu Customs Collector Elvira Cruz hasn’t made a lot of splash in Cebu City, not the kind that put her on front pages and became the focus of attention.

To many people, she was noticed only last Wednesday, Aug. 23 in the “Kita-Kita (sa Customs)” speech of Sen. Ping Lacson before the Senate, which among others said hell is empty as all the devils are in the Bureau of Customs. Cruz led four names of persons involved in the payola scandal alleged by Ping. Obviously, she was one of the alleged payees; the other three from Cebu were among the payors.

She figured in two reported issuance of warrants of seizures and distraints from the local BOC:

(1) Last February, against 20 million kilos of garbage from South Korea consigned to Moving Forward Global Trading Inc. in Guizo, Mandaue City. (2) Last May 31, against P123.2 million of hot rice on a Vietnamese ship in Talisay City.

Before that, on Jan. 24 she met with local customs brokers to ask for their help so she could meet her quota for this year. Some customs watchers then quipped: “Oplan Pakilala.” On Jan, 17, she had taken her oath (with two other newly promoted officials) as Cebu collector before then customs chief Nicanor Faeldon.

Other than having served as customs collector of the subport in Mariveles, Batanan and worked with BOC for 14 years, Cebuanos know little about her.

That she’s in the Ping’s list should excite Cebuanos to know more about Collector Cruz.