Businessman Alberto Lina returns as Customs chief

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Businessman Alberto Lina returns as Customs chief
Air21's Alberto Lina returns to the position he left in 2005 following poll fraud allegations against then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III has appointed businessman Alberto Lina as the new customs chief, a post he held during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) first made the announcement in a media advisory issued past 5 pm on Thursday, April 23, hours after Customs Commissioner John Sevilla revealed his resignation in a news conference.

The BOC announced that Sevilla will turn over the BOC leadership  to “Incoming Commissioner Alberto D. Lina” at 2:30 pm on Friday, April 24, at the Social Hall at the South Harbor at the Port of Manila.

Malacañang made the official announcement an hour later.

“According to Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr, President Aquino has appointed Alberto D. Lina as the new Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs. He replaces John Phillip Sevilla whose resignation has been accepted,” Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said in a statement sent to reporters past 6 pm.

Coloma provided copies of Ochoa’s letter to Sevilla formally accepting his resignation, and Lina’s official appointment letter, both dated April 23.

Lina served the Arroyo administration as customs commissioner, but resigned in 2005 with other “Hyatt 10” Cabinet officials following allegations of poll fraud against then President Arroyo. 

After his resignation, he returned to the private sector to focus on his businesses under the Lina Group of Companies. (READ: Where are the ‘Hyatt 10’ now?)

Lina is founder and chairman of 19 companies under the Lina Group of Companies, among them Airfreight 2100 Incorporated, Air2100 Incorporated, U-Freight Incorporated, and U-Ocean Incorporated.

His name was dragged into a controversy during the 2013 elections when one of his companies, forwarder Airfreight 2100 (Air21), got an alleged anomalous contract with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the deployment of election paraphernalia in Mindanao.

 

He was listed as a donor to the campaign of the President’s cousin, Senator Benigno Aquino IV, in 2013, and of former President Joseph Estrada in 1998. – Rappler.com

 

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