‘Jagger’ not bothered by intrigues

BUREAU of Customs (BOC) commissioner, Rey Leonardo Guerrero, is not bothered at all by the surge in intrigues against the agency in the past several days but instead remains focus in his job.

As a result, the bureau, for the third consecutive month, had again surpassed its assigned collection target, collecting P44.631 billion for August, from its target of P33.675 billion, for a surplus of P10.956 billion.

Based on the preliminary report from the BOC-Financial Service, nine of the seventeen collection districts exceeded their target for the month, namely:

Ports of Tacloban, Zamboanga, Aparri, Limay, Clark, Cebu, Subic, Cagayan De Oro and Davao.

Assistant commissioner and BOC spokesperson, Atty. Vincent Maronilla, in a talk with Pinoy Exposé said their performance under Guerrero has given them the confidence that by the end of the year, the agency can also surpass its total assigned target of P506 billion.

Maronilla said given the upsurge in economic activity as the country eases down on its pandemic protocols, Comm. Guerrero has tasked bureau officials to aim for a final collection goal of at least P520 billion, or P14 billion by end 2020.

He noted further that for July and despite the much higher assigned target of P47.674 billion, the BOC collected P50.072 billion, for a surplus of some P2.3 billion.

For the month of June, the BOC overshoots its assigned target by some P2 billion, after collecting more than P40 billion.

In a separate talk with Pinoy Exposé last week, Guerrero, who never wanted the top customs post to begin with, said he has learned to live with the many intrigues that goes with his job as customs chief.

“Basta ako, trabaho lang,” he said.

He also bared that he has been “reading” all news reports, good or bad, about the BOC, and he had always acted promptly, especially about reports on shenanigans.

“Lahat ng report na puwedeng kong aksyunan, pinapaimbestigahan ko. Tamaan na kung sino ang tamaan,” he assured.

It was Pres. Duterte, for reasons that are not yet clear, who kept on mentioning the BOC during his last two Cabinet meetings held every Monday.

The President, however, also kept repeating that Guerrero has his full trust and confidence, similar to Department of Finance (DOF) secretary, Carlos Dominguez, who immediately ticked off before the Chief Executive the many projects and reforms initiated by Guerrero to further improve the BOC’s performance.

Meanwhile, the BOC said it has formally charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) those behind the foiled smuggling attempt of a multi-million ‘McLaren 620R super sports car’ at the Port of Manila last July 16, 2020.

Charged by the ‘BOC Action Team Against Smugglers’ (BATAS) under deputy commissioner, Atty. Vener Baquiran last August 28, 2020, are, Lovely Joy L. Pandes, the registered owner of ‘Llorin Trading’ that brought in the P30 million vehicle and customs broker, Joyce A. Tabusares.

Separately, Baquiran said also hauled before the DOJ are Meraki Car Trading registered owner, Emmanuel L. Sulit and customs broker, Nicanor B. Sangcad.

Both were charged for allegedly smuggling through misdeclaration another vehicle, a Renault black van last February 16, 2020 at the POM.

Baquiran said also charged for smuggling is ‘Flexhale Trading’ and its owner Denmark V. Locre and customs broker, Debbie Mae V. Tria for alleged illegal importation and misdeclaration of aluminum window frames and accessories.

Finally, the last case involves Chang Luy Mohammad, a Filipino passenger and declarant of the subject baggage of undeclared foreign currency amounting to US$ 491,600.00 seized on September 21, 2019 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.