Faeldon: No firing at customs, just reforms

MANILA, Philippines – New Customs chief former Marine captain Nicanor Faeldon gave assurances on Thursday, June 30, that he is giving all personnel in the graft-ridden agency a “clean slate.” 

“This is not about me, not about the president of the Republic of the Philippines. This is about the rank and file. I will not come here and start firing people,” Faeldon said in his first statement upon assuming the post. 

“I will start reforming the bureau from you. I have strong belief that the rank and file has the capability to reform this. I think that is very clear to me from the day I accepted the job.”

A former soldier, Faeldon was one the leaders of the botched Oakwood mutiny in 2003 against the Arroyo government. He escaped from military detention in December 2005, only to be re-captured a month later.

Faeldon said he would try his best to provide leadership in the troubled agency.

“There is an image – whether it is true or not – that the BOC [Bureau of Customs] is corrupt. The President said it’s one of the most corrupt agencies in the government. Whether this is true or not we have to fix this. We have to show to the people that we are not corrupt and we are transparent,” he said.

The BOC’s collection of import duties and taxes were down throughout the country, with the Port of Manila falling the widest off the mark with a deficit of P2.03 billion.

The bureau has scheduled a series of port auctions to meet targets, one of which was held last June 28 involving 4 lots and 62 containers of forfeited goods.

Faeldon earlier met with district port collectors to discuss with them strategies for boosting revenue collections.

“The rank-and-file [workers], I believe, have the expertise in running the bureau. That is for sure. I will be one of them,” he said.

“I’m not here as a prosecutor. I’m here to do the functions of the bureau to facilitate trade, collect revenues and ensure that borders are protected from the proliferation of prohibitive substance and other prohibitive goods. Prosecuting is not mine. Let’s leave that to the [proper] government agency,” he said. – Rappler.com