BIR chief for Customs post? Palace officials deny any knowledge

By KIMBERLY JANE TAN, GMA News

Published July 29, 2013 11:30am

(Updated 2:18 p.m.) - At least two Palace officials on Monday denied knowing whether Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares is really being considered to replace Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon.

"I don't have any information regarding that matter," Presidential Communication Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. told GMA News Online in a text message Monday.

In separate text messages, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda also said that he was not aware of this.

"To my personal knowledge, in the meetings where I was present, it was never discussed," he said.

He likewise said Henares had said she was also unaware of supposedly being considered for the post.

"I spoke to Commissioner Kim Henares this morning. I asked [her] and she responded to me that nobody has ever told her [of] anything, so she is not aware of any plans," he said during a press briefing later in the day.

Lacierda added that they will announce the reforms when they are "ready" to announce it.

"But, in the meantime, if you’re asking if Kim is being eyed, Kim herself says she doesn’t know," he said.

News about Henares possibly replacing Biazon came out in Rappler after President Benigno Aquino III publicly berated the Bureau of Customs, prompting its head to offer his resignation, which was rejected by the President.

After this, some names of those who may possibly replace Biazon have been floating.

Last Friday, however, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said they have "an incumbent commissioner of Customs....As such the position is not vacant."

"Si Commissioner Biazon came in only, I think, a year yata...and so, you would have to give him time to really make the necessary reforms," added Lacierda on Monday.

"There are certainly difficulties and complexities in the job as Customs Commissioner, and it will take some time, and that’s the reason why he is introducing reforms," said the spokesman.

Lacierda, meanwhile, said the President still has yet to take action on the resignation of Customs deputy commissioner Danilo Lim and Customs deputy commissioner for internal administration group Juan Lorenzo Tañada.

"Ang dami niyang meeting. So, I suppose, maybe this week we will get a response from the President," he said. —KG, GMA News

Tags: customs, kimhenares, ruffybiazon