Ruffy Biazon, Danny Lim get top Customs posts

(Updated 7:06 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III has appointed two of his party's senatorial bets who lost in the May 2010 elections to the top posts at the Bureau of Customs. Rozzano Rufino "Ruffy" Biazon was named the new Customs chief while former Army general Danilo Lim was appointed Customs deputy commissioner for intelligence. At a press briefing on Wednesday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Aquino believes Biazon will be able to implement the reforms Aquino wanted to see in the BOC. "Naniniwala ang Pangulo na kayang maipagpatuloy ni Mr. Biazon ang reporma sa Customs at maabot ang revenue collections. The competence of Biazon is unquestionable," she said. Biazon, son of former senator and incumbent Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, said it is his "distinct honor" to join the Aquino administration. "I would like to express mine and my family’s great appreciation to the President for the confidence he has in appointing me to this important position," he said in a statement posted on his website. On the other hand, Lim is a graduate of the US Military Academy who had been implicated in several military uprisings against the Arroyo administration and even during the time of the late President Corazon Aquino, mother of the incumbent president. Biazon, in his statement, said as Customs chief, he is facing a "gargantuan challenge," but added that he is up to it. "I would never have accepted the task if I knew I wasn't physically, emotionally, mentally, intellectually and morally prepared for it or if the President did not have the confidence in my capability, competence and character," he said. He also said he aims to hit the ground running. "In the next several days, the particular initiatives of reform that we will undertake in the Bureau of Customs will be presented, covering the bureau’s systems and procedures, organizational structure, personnel morale and even the agency’s image." Both Biazon and Lim lost their senatorial bids during the May 2010 polls. Both ran under Aquino's Liberal Party. Another losing LP senatorial bet, Neric Acosta, was earlier named presidential adviser for environmental protection. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ/KBK, GMA News