PRESIDENT SNUBS ALVAREZ: POLITICS DID ME IN, INSISTS BoC CHIEF
MANILA, SEPTEMBER 2, 2011 (MANILA TIMES) Written by : KATRINA MENNEN A. VALDEZ REPORTER (Politics did me in, insists BOC chief)
COMMISSIONER Angelito Alvarez tried but failed in his last-minute attempt to salvage his post at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
His request through a letter, for a five-minute meeting with President Benigno Aquino 3rd for the purpose apparently had been railroaded.
Alvarez had intended to tick off his supposed achievements before President Aquino himself.
The letter, however, failed to reach the President because it was allegedly blocked by some officials who had wanted to remove Alvarez from his post as there were other groups that would want to install their own "commissioner" at Customs.
"The letter has been preempted by the pronouncement of the President yesterday [Monday], hence, he made the pronouncement even before he was able to read the letter," a source at Malacañang told The Manila Times.
Mr. Aquino on Monday said that he has chosen the replacement for Alvarez.
In a letter to the President obtained by The Times, dated August 28, he said that in his 14 months in office, he has outperformed all his predecessors in the bureau.
"Given the opportunity, the distinction will become even more pronounced. With your indulgence, I have attached annexes showing empirical data backing my claims," the letter read.
Alvarez said in his letter that he tried to meet personally with the President to articulate his vision, goals and achievements for the BOC, as well as the challenges he faced and overcame in the past year.
"Unfortunately, I realize that there are more pressing national concerns that require your foremost attention. Therefore, Mr. President, I am taking this opportunity by writing to respectfully assure you that during my tenure as Customs commissioner, my hands have never been sullied," he wrote.
"I was never involved in any form of corruption and will always be able to hold my head high knowing that I have faithfully followed the 'matuwid na daan,'" Alvarez wanted to tell Mr. Aquino.
Matuwid na daan (straight path), according to the President, is the road that his administration should take to rid the government of corruption.
Annexes attached to the letter listed supposed accomplishments of Alvarez:
• Generation of cash revenues totaling P149.840 billion during the first seven months of 2011, an 11-percent increase year-on-year despite P39 billion forgone revenues in compliance with free trade agreements.
• Permanent stoppage transshipment of cargoes where duties and taxes will now have to be paid at the port of discharge.
• Strengthening of Post-Entry Audit Group and reorganizing enforcement, intelligence and assessment groups.
• Close coordination with legislators for finalization of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and enhancement of Customs valuation through publication of updated reference values.
Alvarez first came under fire in April over alleged smuggling of cars and motorcycles involving businessman Lynard Bigcas.
The allegation prompted President Aquino to publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Alvarez.
"Just to set the record straight, please allow me to state that the Bigcas car smuggling case in Mindanao, for which I was unjustly pilloried in the media, happened long before my appointment as Customs commissioner. Also, the concern about the proliferation of smuggled goods in 168 Mall is continuously being addressed with successful raids of warehouses being used by those who supply counterfeit goods to tenants of 168 and other nearby malls," Alvarez said.
The 168 Mall is found at Manila's popular Divisoria area.
To date, Alvarez reported to the President through the letter, more than P1-billion worth of imitation products have been confiscated, which will all be destroyed once all the condemnation requirements are satisfied.
"I have [also] recently filed charges against those responsible for the missing containers and intend to see this case through to serve as a deterrent to future would-be wrongdoers. I will make these criminals pay," he said, referring to the smuggling charges he filed last week against the consignees and brokers of nearly 2, 000 missing container vans for Batangas province in May this year.
Politics, according to Alvarez, did him in.
"Yes, Mr. President, detractors have hurled accusation after accusation even casting aspersions upon my character and person. I assure you that I can and will stand up to any court of law, inquiry or other forum to prove [that] these charges [are] baseless, fictions of overly fertile and malicious minds, not to mention those who have higher political ambitions and those whose primary concern is to protect their interests in Customs," the letter stated.
"I have also achieved set goals and rid the bureau of undesirable elements and pernicious practices. Our goal of totally eradicating corruption and smuggling in Customs is one I intend to realize in the short term. I have been quietly working on these reforms. Unfortunately, setting aside funds to trumpet these efforts has never been part of my work ethic," Alvarez wrote.
He vowed to the media that if he was replaced, he would turn over his post in a very professional manner and would step down like a gentleman.
"I would probably go farming and take a vacation with my family. I will rest. But after a time, I am sure the private sector would welcome me back," Alvarez also told The Times.
Alvarez, a certified public accountant, served as president of Burger King Titans Inc.
He was a former Philippine Basketball Association governor representing Air 21 league.
Malacañang also on Tuesday said that Alvarez simply failed in his job.
Good performance was the only thing that the President was expecting from all his Cabinet members and Alvarez fell short, deputy spokesman Abigail Valte told reporters during a phone interview.
Valte, however, did not say if Alvarez has been officially dismissed from office.
Alvarez insisted that Mr. Aquino being misinformed about the status of his job at the agency made the President decide to ax him.
During an interview with ANC also on Tuesday, he said that he made many enemies as BOC chief.
Yet, according to Alvarez, he does not really know what finally pushed the President to dismiss him.
Meanwhile, he advised his successor to be prepared because politics exists inside the Customs bureau.
WITH REPORTS FROM JOVEE MARIE N. DELA CRUZ AND MARIA NIKKA U. GARRIGA
FROM THE TRIBUNE
Nothing can save outgoing Customs commissioner — Palace By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan and Angie M. Rosales 09/01/2011
Outgoing Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez was kept in the dark and never really saw it coming when President Aquino announced that he has been sacked from his post as Malacañang said last Friday that no amount of expensive media offensive can save him from losing his post.
In a press briefing, Deputy presidential spokesman Abegail Valte said that Alvarez can do all the radio tours and media interviews to refute President Aquino's observation on his disappointing performance but this is not going to help change the President's decision to throw him out of the BoC.
" I think at this point, it's clear that the President has already made his decision," Valte said.
After Aquino announced that he has been sacked as Customs chief, the media-shy Alvarez is suddenly all over the media to dispute claims that he performed badly in carrying out the mandate of his office and claimed that a group of smuggling syndicate is behind his ouster.
But Valte said that while it is natural for Alvarez to defend himself through media, this will not change the fact that the President believes that he has not done enough to fight the culture of corruption at the BoC.
However, Valte stressed that Alvarez can bring up to Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima whatever angst that he has in relation with the President's decision to fire him.
"I think, that is something, that is a matter that can be best settled between Commissioner Alvarez and Secretary Purisima being the immediate superior," Valte said, as she admitted that President Aquino opted not to personally convey to Alvarez his decision to remove him from the BoC.
Valte said that Aquino relayed his decision to Purisima, who in turn brought up the bad news to Alvarez, which apparently was the reason why the embattled Customs chief is still hoping for a reversal of his misfortunes.
Valte added that it is also inaccurate for Alvarez to blame smuggling syndicates for his ouster as she insisted that he was removed from the BoC precisely to allow President Aquino to appoint someone who can do better in the government's fight against smuggling.
However, although Alvarez has been practically rendered inutile as he awaits for his replacement to formally take over his post, Valte claimed that Aquino has yet to reveal the identity of the next BoC chief.
Aquino described Alvarez' replacement as someone private sector but there are persistent reports that the post is accommodation for Aquino's congressional buddy and defeated Senatorial candidate Rozzano "Ruffy" Biazon.
"We intend to intensify the anti-smuggling efforts of the government. That's also the mandate of Commisioner Alvarez's replacement. It is incorrect to say that our fight against smuggling will slow down because of his removal form his post," Valte said. "At iyon din naman yung magiging mandato noong papalit kay Commissioner Alvarez. Hindi naman dahil napalitan ay babawasan yung ating pagtugis doon sa mga smuggler."
Valte also expressed hopes that Alvarez would keep his word that he would turn over everything to his successor, including his inside knowledge on the illegal activities in the BoC despite being tagged as ineffective by Aquino.
" We look forward to the turnover that will happen, and we will look into what Commissioner Alvarez has discovered. He has also signified his intention to turn over everything that he has found out to his successor,"she said.
Meanwhile, embattled BoC Commissioner Angelito Alvarez had a defender in the person of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, saying that the outgoing official has been "on the right track."
But Lacson would not dare question the manner in which Alvarez was replaced.
"I'd rather leave that to the wisdom of the appointing authority. The manner of announcement of dismissing the officials, that's his prerogative so I dont want to step into that territory," he said, in an interview with reporters.
"In fairness to Alvarez I find it unfortunate he was given the boot at this time. In fairness to him, he was the one who discovered the missing container vans, he was the one who exposed it.. And I think he's on the right track. I know he knows his job very well.
"He has barely started the reforms that the BoC badly needs. He knows his job very well and has been trying his darned best to correct the institutionalized corruption in the bureau," he said.
"He knows the ins and outs (in the Customs because) auditing is his background so he can trace to all of these things. But that should not take away anything, if indeed (former) Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon is the one to take over, I know him to be a straight and heads-up guy who can manage the Bureau. We expect that he learns the ropes and I think he will do well as BoC commissioner," he said.
The senator said the next head of the Bureau should continue Alvarez's fight against institutionalized corruption in the agency, who was "unfortunately" given the boot at this time.
"If I know him right, he (Biazon) is one straight and heads-up government official. He should be a good addition to the Aquino administration," Lacson said.
But he advised Biazon to break the "Friday habit" of those involved in smuggling-related corruption at the Bureau.
Citing information reaching him, Lacson said those engaged in corruption at the Bureau meet every Friday to divide the spoils.
"Once he learns the ropes, he's one guy worth watching as far as reforms are concerned," Lacson said of Biazon.
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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