Customs intel group reorganized to improve anti-smuggling efforts

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

BUREAU of Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez designated new officers-in-charge (OIC) to key positions in its Intelligence Service to improve monitoring, detection, and foiling of smuggling activities.

The reorganization covered almost the entire network of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CCIS) at the regional, district, and sub-port levels under the leadership of CIIS Director and acting deputy commissioner for Intelligence Filomeno Vicencio Jr.

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The rotation and re-deployment plan was implemented to ensure that customs intelligence and investigation agents and port users do no not become too familiar and comfortable with one another.

Given new assignments were Liceo Martinez as OIC for the Visayas region, Oswaldo Geli for the Mindanao region and Rolando Sacramento for Southern Luzon.

Marissa Rae Galang was designated to the Manila International Container Port (MICP) while Bienvenido Rubio will take over Galang's old CCIS post at the Port of Manila.

The rotation also affected Manolo Arevalo who was shifted from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the Port of Cebu; Rico Rey Francis Holganza from the Port of Cebu to the NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport); Ernesto Aguirrechea from the Shipside & Outside CY/CFS (Container Yard/Container Freight Station) Unit to the Port of Batangas and its sub-ports; Aris de Guzman from the Port of Subic and Limay to the Shipside & Outside CY/CFS Unit; and Alexander Atienza from the Port of Batangas, Legaspi and its sub-ports to the Port of Limay and its sub-ports.

Javier Alpano was transferred 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 (PEAG).

In the same order, Alvarez relieved Nemesio Magno, Jr. of his other responsibilities as acting assistant chief of the Investigation and Prosecution Division so he could focus on his main job as Vicencio's chief of staff.

The Customs chief also assigned Eric Albano as head of Special Operations and assistant chief of the Intelligence Division in a concurrent capacity.

Among the mandates of the CIIS are the collection, collation and evaluation of data and information on acts of economic sabotage and the conduct of surveillance, investigation and apprehension of cases involving violations of customs, tariff laws and regulations. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)