Palace denies Ochoa 'padrino' of Customs personnel

By KIMBERLY JANE TAN, GMA News

Published July 26, 2013 2:38pm

(Updated 4:56 p.m.) Although it admitted that Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa had recommended the appointment of one Customs official, Malacañang on Friday denied that he was the "padrino" or protector of some ranking officials there.

At a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Ochoa confirmed that he was the one who recommended the appointment of Peter Manzano as Customs deputy commissioner.

But she quickly stressed that Ochoa has "nothing to do with any transaction illegal or otherwise" within the bureau.

"There is no truth to that. I spoke to the ES this morning and the ES did say, sabi niya, “Yes, it is true that I was the one who recommended Attorney Manzano to the position while it was open but that is it,” Valte said.

Valte was reacting to a Manila Times report which identified Ochoa and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. as among those protecting some Customs officials who do not wish to be reassigned.

Belmonte's brother Ricardo is the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) collector.

Valte, however, said that it is not uncommon for the names of ranking government officials to be used by some individuals.

"Wala ho siyang [Ochoa] ino-authorize na taong gamitin yung pangalan niya," she said.

Belmonte's denial

In a separate statement, Belmonte also denied meddling in matters related to the Customs bureau.

"My brother Ricardo has been in the Bureau of Customs for 34 years with an impeccable record. He certainly doesn’t need me to back him. And I have never done so," he said.

Belmonte likewise dared Customs deputy commissioner Danilo Lim to "name the congressmen and the dubious transactions they supposedly entered into."

Earlier, Lim also said that there were "external forces" beyond their control in the bureau while Customs deputy commissioner for Internal Administration Group Juan Lorenzo Tañada alleged that there were "powerful forces" trying to influence them.

Valte said Ochoa would also like to know the names of the people being identified by the two.

"If deputy commissioner Lim is in possession of names, the executive secretary is more than willing to listen," she said.

"If you find that there is wrondgoing you let the process take its course," she added.

Berated during SONA

Last Monday, President Aquino berated the Bureau of Customs, as well as the Bureau of Immigration and the National Irrigation Administration, for the agencies' supposed mediocre work.

Immediately after the SONA, Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon offered his resignation, but it was rejected by the President.

Lim and Tañada followed suit, although no action yet has been taken on their resignations.

"Both resignations are still being processed. No word from the President whether these two will be accepted or rejected," said Valte.

Meanwhile, she denied that they will be replacing Biazon.

"We have an incumbent commissioner of Customs. As such the position is not vacant," she said. — with Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: customs, paquitoochoa