The government has started an intensified campaign against smuggling through the newly appointed head of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Ariel Nepomuceno, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. gave Nepomuceno marching orders to strengthen border protection and fight smuggling, as soon as the latter was appointed on Monday.

“Nagsisimula na po ang pamahalaan sa paglaban, sa mas matinding laban, sa smuggling,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro noted in a briefing.

Nepomuceno is not new to the BOC as he had previously held positions within the agency, including as assistant commissioner of the Post Clearance Audit Group from December 2017 to April 2018 and deputy commissioner of the Enforcement Group from December 2013 to February 2017.

From December 2012 to March 2013, Nepomuceno also served as director and CEO of the Office of Civil Defense under the Department of National Defense, as well as a consultant at the Office of the President in 2003.

He replaced Bienvenido Rubio as head of the BOC a month after President Marcos called for the courtesy resignation of all Cabinet secretaries and heads of government offices, for a performance review.

“Ang tanging gusto ng Pangulo, ay maging tapat sa bansa, labanan ang smuggling, at siyempre po, maging transparent sa koleksyon ng revenues… Kung ano man ang naging dahilan ng ating Pangulo, malamang ito’y patungkol pa rin para sa ikakaganda ng serbisyo sa taumbayan,” Castro said when asked why the President replaced Rubio.

Aside from Rubio, five other officials with ranks of deputy commissioner, director, and collector were replaced at the BOC, she said. | PND