Customs revamps intelligence service

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has implemented a shake-up in its intelligence service to improve efficiency in monitoring, detecting, and foiling smuggling activities, the BOC said in a statement Monday. Designated by Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez, new officers-in-charge (OICs) will occupy key positions in the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) at the regional, district, and sub-port levels, according to the BOC. Alvarez said the bureau has rotated and redeployed its officers “to ensure that customs intelligence and investigation agents, on one hand, and port users, on the other, do not become too familiar and comfortable with one another." Marissa Rae Galang has been assigned OIC for the Manila International Container Port. The rotation also affected Manolo Arevalo, transferred from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the Port of Cebu; Rico Rey Francis Holganza from the Port of Cebu to NAIA; Ernesto Aguirrechea from the Shipside & Outside CY/CFS Unit to the Port of Batangas and its sub-ports; Aris de Guzman from the Port of Subic and Limay to the Shipside and Outside CY/CFS Unit; Alexander Atienza from the Port of Batangas, Legaspi, and its subports to the Port of Limay and its subports; Javier Alpano from the Visayas Region office to the Port of Subic; Carmelita Valeroso from the Operations Section of the Investigation Division to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in Cavite and Laguna; Danilo Umacob, Jr. from the PEZA in Cavite and Laguna to the Port of Clark; Alvin Enciso from the CIIS Investigation Division to Head of the CIIS Postal Office; and Willie Sarmiento from the Office of the Director to the Post-Entry Audit Group. The CIIS is mandated to collect, collate, and evaluate data and information on acts of economic sabotage and the conduct of surveillance, investigation, and apprehension of cases involving violations of customs and tariff laws and regulations. — PE/VS, GMA News