BUREAU of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio led the agency in the celebration of the 36TH anniversary of the Enforcement Security Service (ESS/Customs Police) last March 25, 2024. The ESS is the main operating arm of the Enforcement Group (EG) and performs a critical task in the enforcement of the country’s customs laws, border security and the fight against all forms of illicit trade.
In his commemorative address, Rubio lauded the invaluable contributions of the ESS in protecting the nation’s economy and citizens, noting further that the ESS played a key role, along with the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) in the seizure of P43.30 billion worth of smuggled goods last year, thus far the highest in the country’s history.
The ESS presently is headed by Acting Director Isabelo ‘Butch’ Tibayan, a veteran customs police officer while the Enforcement Group is headed by Atty. Teddy Raval.
Aside from combatting smuggling, the ESS is also responsible for the implementation of the country’s ‘Fuel Marking Program’ (FMP) specifically designed to combat the smuggling of oil-based products.
The customs chief noted that in 2023, the ESS supervised the fuel marking of 18.97 billion liters of fuel that entered the country and also apprehended some P395 million worth of smuggled petroleum products and tankers used to transport them.
Rubio also joined Raval and Tibayan in recognizing deserving members of the ESS for their contributions to the unit’s accomplishments.