THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) would have two new deputy commissioners with the approval by Malacañan of fresh appointments to the country’s second biggest revenue generating agency.
To assume as the new deputy commissioner for Management Information Systems and Technology Group (MISTG) is Atty. Porfirio Gabiola, whose appointment as deputy commissioner was signed by then Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez last September 15, 2022.
Gabiola’s appointment was formally transmitted to the BOC by the Department of Finance (DOF) last September 22, 2022.
Gabiola replaced Allan Geronimo to the MISTG post who, prior to his transfer to the BOC in March 2019, once served as regional manager of China’s telecom giant, ‘Huawei Technologies.’
Gabiola is not new to the controversies at the BOC. His appointment by then Commissioner Alberto ‘Bert’ Lina as head of the BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) in July 2015, prompted then Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement, Ariel Nepomuceno, to tender his resignation in protest but it was rejected by Lina.
On the other hand, newly-retired Philippine Army 6th Infantry ‘Kampilan’ Division commander, M/Gen. Juvymax Ramirez Uy, is the new deputy commissioner for the Intelligence Group (IG), considered as the “second” most powerful position in the agency, after the Commissioner of Customs, now in the person of acting commissioner, Yogi Filemon Ruiz.
Uy would be replacing another retired Phil. Army brigadier general, Rainiel Ramiro to the post that Ramiro has served since 2018. Ramiro is a product of the ‘Maharlika Class of 1984’ of the Philippine Military Academy.
Uy received his appointment to the IG last October 20, 2022, signed by Executive Secretary Lucal Bersamin who also administered his oath of office.
A member of the PMA’s ‘Makatao Class of 1989,’ Uy is a respected intelligence officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), having also once served as head of the Phil. Army’s Intelligence Service Group (ISG).
He retired as the 37th commander of the 6th ID—responsible for internal security operations in Central Mindanao—only last May 21, 2022, having spent more than 35 years in the military.
A brief resume provided by the PA disclosed that Uy is an officer gifted with both management and field experience, having served as AFP internal auditor before his appointment to the 6th ID.
He also served as brigade commander at the famous 1st Infantry ‘Tabak’ Division based in Basilan and commander of Task Force Zamboanga where his performance was rewarded by the local government when he was declared as an “adopted” son of the city.
He also honed his field experience as Army officer as commander of the 43rd ‘We Search Battalion,’ 8th Infantry Division.
Uy, an ‘Ilonggo,’ hails from Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
In his junior years, he underwent various basic, advance and specialization schoolings and trainings both local and abroad such as: Infantry Basic and Advance Officer Courses, Special Forces Operations Course, Basic Airborne Course, Signal Intel Officer Course, and various intelligence courses from the Joint Military Intelligence Training Center, Defence Intelligence Agency, USA. In order to hone his strategic capability, he later on finished his Command and General Staff Course (CGSC) at the AFP Command and General Staff College and Strategic Intel Course.
As a combat officer, Uy is also a recipient of 5 Distinguished Service Star Awards, a Gold Cross Medal– the second highest AFP medal for gallantry in action– Bronze Cross Medals, Silver Cross Medals, and various Military Merit and Commendation Medals.
He is also a recipient of the PMA’s prestigious ‘Cavalier Award’ in 2012 for Army Operations, and the Philippine Legion of Honor, Degree of Legionnaire Award given by the President of the Philippines.
Aside from his military education, Uy also has two master’s degree in management from the Philippine Christian University and in public management from the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and a degree in international development security, also from the DAP.
Uy also finished his senior executive course on national security from the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP).
As of this posting, however, both officials are yet to assume their respective posts.