Appointees of former President Rodrigo Duterte at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) are now being tested for their loyalty by Malacanang.
This has caused people at the BOC and other government agencies to be on edge as even the highest officials placed in their post by the former president are being asked to submit their resumes, complete with tasks accomplished during their tenure.
The performance review of all presidential appointees (including those in government-owned and controlled corporations) who took their oaths before February 1, 2023 would submit the required document, which government insiders said is thinly veiled “loyalty purge,” according to business blog site, Bilyonaryo.com.
The directive covers all appointees from June 30, 2022 to January 30, 2023, and is intended to update their personal data and ensure that they have no pending criminal or administrative cases.
Though the official view is that the directive is meant to update personal data and clear anyone of legal issues, government insiders said the actual goal is to oust officials associated with Duterte, who has turned into a passive-aggressive critic of the sitting President, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., since his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, was stripped of P125 million confidential funds from her post at the Department of Education (DepEd).
At the BOC, Bilyonaryo said, those rumored to be in the crosshairs are Deputy Commissioner Vener Baquiran, his protege Deputy Commissioner Clarence Dizon and Imports and Assessment Service (IAS) Director Yasser Abbas.
Other Duterte "loyalists" include Deputy Commissioners Teddy Raval, Edward Dy Buco and Michael Fermin, all reported to be under scrutiny, Bilyonaryo added.
Other major officials, belonging to offices under the economic cluster, are also under close scrutiny for those appointed by Duterte.
Many of them are CESO (Career Executive Service Officer with ranks ranging from VI with salary grade 25 being the lowest and 1 being the highest with a salary grade 30) are also covered by the directive and should they be eased out of their posts, they would still be receiving their pay, although on a floating status.
#OpinYon #WeTakeAStand #BOC #