BOC chief dismantles centralized alert system for questionable shipments

Newly installed Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief Isidro Lapeña has ordered the abolition of the Command Center (ComCen) created by his predecessor to serve as a centralized issuer of alerts for certain shipments.

BOC Legal Division chief Alvin Ebreo yesterday said in a text message Lapeña ordered the termination of ComCen last Aug. 31. ComCen was former BOC chief Nicanor Faeldon’s brainchild. It was directly under the office of the commissioner.

Legislators earlier questioned the BOC under Faeldon for giving ComCen the sole authority to issue alerts for certain – usually questionable – shipments entering the country.

On Sept. 7, 2016, Faeldon issued Customs Memorandum Order No. 23-2016 revoking the authority of the commissioners for the Intelligence Group (IG), the Enforcement Group (EG) and the deputy commissioner for Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group, as well as all district collectors to issue alerts.

A source said Lapeña aimed to decentralize the bureau and restore the power of district collectors to issue alerts, in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Upon assuming the top BOC post, Lapeña ordered the legal division to check if there is legal basis to retain the ComCen.

Meanwhile, another BOC source said Lapeña is considering placing the IG and the EG under one deputy commissioner. Currently, one deputy commissioner is assigned to each office.

But even if the IG and the EG are placed under the control of only one deputy commissioner, their respective operating units would be retained, meaning the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service under the IG and the Enforcement Security Service under the EG.

Lapeña is reportedly planning to recruit his operations chief at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to be his deputy commissioner for IG and acting deputy commissioner for EG.

A BOC insider said PDEA deputy director general for operations Assistant Secretary Ricardo Quinto is reportedly being groomed as deputy commissioner for IG and EG.

Quinto and Lapeña belong to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1973 Maagap.