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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace on BOC leadership change: Marcos wants better service, transparency

Palace on BOC leadership change: Marcos wants better service, transparency

Published Jul 1, 2025 02:42 pm
President Marcos appointed a new Customs commissioner because he wanted better service to the people, transparency, and a more intense fight against smuggling, Malacañang said.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. spearheaded the bell-ringing ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange in Taguig City on July 1, 2025, to celebrate the rollout of the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA). (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. spearheaded the bell-ringing ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange in Taguig City on July 1, 2025, to celebrate the rollout of the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA). (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)
While Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro did not elaborate the reason for the leadership change in the Bureau of Customs (BOC), she stressed that Marcos only wanted better service, transparency, and stronger anti-smuggling efforts from the bureau.
The President named former BOC deputy commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno as the new Customs chief on Monday, June 30, replacing Bienvenido Rubio, whose courtesy resignation was declined by Marcos early last month.
“Ang Pangulo, ang nais po talaga ay makapagbigay ng mas magandang serbisyo ang bawat heads of agencies, ang bawat lider na nasasakupan ng ating Pangulo (The President truly wants each head of agency, each leader under his administration, to provide better service),” Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, July 1.
“Ang tanging gusto ng Pangulo ay maging tapat sa bansa, labanan ang smuggling, at siyempre maging transparent sa collection ng revenues (The only thing the President wants is loyalty to the country, to fight smuggling, and of course, to ensure transparency in revenue collection),” Castro added.
Everybody is on probation
The Palace official disclosed that it was not only Rubio who was replaced in the BOC. Marcos actually replaced six officials, including Rubio.
She did not name the officials but she said those who were removed were collectors, deputy commissioners, and directors.
Asked if the President was not satisfied with Rubio's performance, considering that he is currently undertaking a massive Cabinet performance evaluation, or if he was involved in any anomaly, Castro said “we cannot say that.”
“Hindi po natin masasabi 'yan at kung ano man po ang naging dahilan ng ating Pangulo malamang patungkol pa rin sa ikagaganda ng serbisyo para sa taumbayan (We cannot say that. Whatever the President’s reason may be, it is likely still in line with improving the service delivered to the people), she said.
Castro reiterated that with the ongoing performance evaluation, every official in the administration is on probation.
“We cannot say that. The only purpose of the President is there is a continuing performance evaluation. Everybody is on notice. Everybody is on probation. We have to work better for the country and for our fellowmen,” Castro said.
According to Castro, Marcos' marching order to Nepomuceno was to strengthen border protection and launch a more intense fight against smuggling.
Another Cabinet movement?
Marcos has yet to mention about the intention of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to apply for the position of Ombudsman, Castro said.
Asked if the President already has a shortlist to appoint as Justice secretary if Remulla would indeed vacate the position, Castro said “let's just wait.”
“Wala pa pong nababanggit ang Pangulo kasi wala pa rin po yung shortlist na natatanggap ng Pangulo. So, hintayin na lang po natin kung ano ang magiging pasya sa tamang panahon (The President has not mentioned anything yet because the shortlist has not yet been submitted to him. So, let us just wait for what the decision will be at the right time),” Castro said.
“'Yan po naman ay kanyang pagpapasya,ni SOJ Boying Remulla. So, hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa naman nababakante ang Department of Justice. So hintayin na lang natin (That would be his personal decision — that of Secretary of Justice Boying Remulla. As of now, the Department of Justice is not yet vacant. So let’s just wait),” she added.

Related Tags

President Marcos Bureau of Customs (BOC) Ariel Nepomuceno Bienvenido Rubio Smuggling
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