Friday, June 22, 2007 Customs chief denies he has quit
* Fake letter of resignation circulates
AN IRREVOCABLE resignation triggered by his supposed inability to accomplish tasks directed to him and his agency supposedly signed by Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales circulated Thursday which he later denied and branded as fake.
The letter supposedly signed by Morales was dated June 20, 2007 and addressed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It said while he tried and did his best to serve the government “at present, I feel being constrained in implementing the tasks you have asked me to do. To put it simply, I feel that I am now in apposition where I can no longer effectively carry out the tasks you have given me.”
The letter further stated that “As per instructions, I am now tendering my irrevocable resignation. This is effectively immediately. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the country and our people under your administration. Madam, I would always be grateful to you.”
Morales immediately went the rounds of radio stations denying that he prepared and submitted the letter. He said while it maybe signed, his signature is very easy to copy.
He said the letter was a "fake" and was possibly circulated by those who want him out of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Morales said he would just continue on doing his job, which he said he got because the President named him to the position dismissing reports that First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo may have a hand in his appointment.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, who earlier declined to comment and dismissed the resignation letter as not his concern, in a text message sent hours after Morales went on radio said the Customs commissioner already “disclaimed (the letter) as fake.”
Bunye also forwarded the Morales’ statement saying the letter could be part of “a string of black propaganda waged against commissioner by parties lusting after his position since the day he assumed office.”
Morales, in the said statement, said he is prepared to step down from office once he has lost the trust and confidence of the President.
He added that he is “unmoved by rumors and is concentrating on the task of raising revenues for the government.”
Morales had admitted that his office failed to meet their collection target for the first few months of the year but he feels that they still have until the end of the 2007 to meet their annual goal.
The Customs bureau’s target for this year is 16.3 percent higher than last year's P196 billion.
The supposed resignation letter of Morales came a day after Revenue Commissioner Jose Mario Buñag was replaced by the President with deputy commissioner Lilia Hefti whom she named as temporary officer in charge.
Buñag admitting that his agency failed to meet their revenue targets blamed the “unrealistic goals” set by his superiors. (JMR/Sunnex)
