By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
On the heels of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s appointment of Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno as the new Bureau of Customs (BOC) commissioner on Monday, June 30, the Palace was quick to quell speculations regarding the performance of former Customs Chief Bienvenido Rubio.
When quizzed by the media at the Malacañang press briefing this Tuesday, July 1, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made clear that Nepomuceno’s appointment as new BOC chief was simply part of President Marcos Jr.’s directive of quashing illegal smuggling and ensuring transparency in collecting revenues.
Castro clarified, “Hindi lamang po isa ang pinalitan, anim po kasama po ang Commissioner sa napalitan—may mga collectors, may deputy commissioners, and directors—anim po lahat sila sa Bureau of Customs.”
Moreover, the Palace press briefer cited the Chief Executive’s marching order to BOC commissioner Nepomuceno, which is to strengthen the country’s border protection mechanisms, improve the efficiency of revenue collection, and intensify the campaign against the illegal smuggling of various products into the nation’s ports.
On Justice Sec. Remulla’s Ombudsman application
Castro also responded to a media query on Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Crispin Remulla’s intention to apply for the Ombudsman post, as he stated in an earlier interview that he already relayed such to the President.
She said, “Wala pa pong nababanggit ang Pangulo, kasi wala pa rin [po siyang] shortlist na natatanggap. So, hintayin na lang po natin kung ano po ang magiging pasya sa tamang panahon.”
The Palace press briefer also deferred Remulla’s intention to transfer to the Ombudsman and vacate his post, urging the media to wait for further updates on the matter. She clarified that as of press time, Remulla still remains in his post as DOJ Secretary.
Moreover, she emphasized that the Judicial Bar Council (JBC) has the final say on whether Remulla’s application for Ombudsman would go through.
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