Ruiz keeps promise, picks ‘lowly’ lawyer as COS

On Aug 2, 2022

New Bureau of Customs commissioner, Yogi Filemon Ruiz, elaborates on his 7-point agenda for the agency during his assumption last July 25, 2022, that includes “increasing” the morale of employees. Ruiz made good on his promise by selecting an ‘Attorney II’ (SG 18), the lowest position among lawyers at the agency, as his chief of staff (stock photo).

BUREAU of Customs commissioner, Yogi Filemon Ruiz, made good on his promise to “increase” the morale of customs employees by picking one of the lawyers at the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS/Customs Police) to be his Chief of Staff.

Based on Customs Personnel Order (CPO) B-89-2022 dated July 26, 2022, or just a day after he formally assumed as customs commissioner, Ruiz selected Atty. Antonio B. Beado Jr., to help him managed the Office of the Commissioner “in addition to his present assignment” at the ESS.

Prior to his promotion, Beado is an ‘Attorney II’ (Salary Grade 18) at the BOC, the lowest positions among the lawyers in the bureau.

Ruiz is said to “personally know” Beado as he was the ESS director before being appointed to the top customs post.

“In the exigency of the service and in compliance with relevant civil service rules and regulations on designation, Atty. Antonio B. Beado Jr., Attorney II, Salary Grade 18, is hereby designated as Chief of Staff, Office of the Commissioner of Customs, in addition to his present assignment (at the ESS),” Ruiz said in his order.

As Chief of staff, Beado would be supervising the work of other customs officials above him in the pay grade, which, according to some insiders, is actually a violation of civil service rules.

Prior to his formal assumption as commissioner, Ruiz was quoted as saying he had chosen veteran customs lawyer and book author, Atty. Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang, to be his COS.

But during his first executive committee (Execom) meeting right after the formal turnover ceremony with Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero on July 25, 2022, everyone was surprised after Ruiz introduced to them one ‘Atty. Greg Largoza,’ a lawyer from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as “his” chief of staff.

However, sources said Ruiz again has a changed of mind after being advised that bringing in an outsider to perform the sensitive post of COS can cause him trouble later on.

Both commissioners Alberto ‘Bert’ Lina and Nicanor ‘Mang Kanor’ Faeldon, had to face a grilling before Congress over their decision to source their respective chiefs of staff from outside of the agency.

In a related development, Ruiz has designated Atty. Gilbert F. Ordoña, Special Police Assistant Chief, as the ‘OIC’ (Officer-In-Charge) of the Enforcement Group thru CPO B-90-2022 dated July 29, 2022 and as director, ESS, under CPO B-91-2022 also dated on the same day. The current EG deputy commissioner is Atty. Teddy Raval.

Also, under CPO B-91-2022, Ruiz promoted Special Police Captain Ruel Reyes as the acting district commander of the ESS for the Port of Manila (POM), from his current position as POM deputy district commander for operations.

Ruiz also promoted Special Police Lieutenant Cipriano Bernabe, as the POM deputy district commander for operations on top of his present assignment as head of the Pass Control Office at the POM.