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Thursday, April 28, 2005
Ex-Cebu customs chief snubs turnover rites
By Elias O. Baquero
CEBU CITY -- Bibby Bibit shot back at Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina, saying his superior deceived him, just hours after his replacement took oath as district collector of the Port of Cebu.
Bibit did not show up for the turnover ceremony with Acting Port of Cebu District Collector Roger Lim Wednesday.
In a press statement, he said the ceremony was only "a grand show designed to create illusions in the minds of the public and President Arroyo that he had accepted his unceremonious relief without question."
"Let it be clarified that the issue entailing my relief is not about the denial of the Civil Service Commission of my appointment, but the obvious disinterest of Commissioner Lina to take the cudgels and push for my reappointment despite his assurances to me on several occasions," Bibit said.
If indeed his lack of Career Executive Service Officer (Ceso) eligibility was the hindrance, he said, how come there are several appointees who remain in their post without the required third-level eligibility?
Collections
Lina did not mind Bibit's no-show during the turnover. "In fairness to him, maybe he didn't come because he got sick," he said.
"I thank Bibit for his good job with the bureau."
In response, Bibit said: "How you (Lina) treated me is not how a person would treat somebody who performed well."
Bibit said records will attest that he has contributed a total of P13.3 billion to the government's coffers in the last four years as district collector.
"Sadly enough, my efforts are unappreciated. Personally, though, I am fulfilled with the fact that I was able to give all the ports I handled (Subic, Clark and Cebu), the distinction of the highest collections," Bibit said.
In his short speech during the turnover ceremony, Lim described Bibit as "the best district collector I have known and worked with." He promised to continue the programs that his predecessor had started.
Lim said his number one concern is to raise revenue collections to surpass the almost P4 billion target for 2005.
Bibit, in the same press statement, thanked Lim for recognizing his efforts in the bureau "even if the commissioner does not."
Challenges
Records show that during Bibit's term, the Port of Cebu was rocked by controversies but no customs officials were ever charged in court.
In October 2003, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) created a task force to look into the alleged disappearance of 100 container vans of smuggled goods at the Cebu International Port (CIP).
Then NBI 7 executive officer Nelson Bartolome had said the investigation will cover the period since Bibit assumed office in July 2002. Nothing happened to that investigation.
Last Oct. 16, 2003, general manager Tomas Riveral of Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp. complained that a new Ford Mustang sports car from the US was "forcibly taken" by armed men from the CIP in commando-style operations. The tax paid for the car was only P293,510 instead of about P1.5 million.
Also in 2003, several container vans of smuggled rice and vehicles disappeared from CIP, forcing Customs Police Chief Isidro Estrera to seek NBI assistance.
In January 2004, Bibit engaged in a turf war with the NBI 7 over the seizure of 25 sports utility vehicles consigned to Sulpicio Jao but which the NBI believed were owned by his son, Bibit Jr. Bibit had denied that his son was smuggling vehicles.
Gloria's nod?
Bibit was given his relief order last week.
He said in the press statement that during a talk with Lina last week, he was given the impression that President Arroyo sanctioned his relief.
"I do not know the reasons. But then, these will be known in due time and by that time, I will also know if there was really such a sanction," Bibit said.
He added: "If this is the decision of the President, then I humbly submit to Her Excellency's call. But if not, that will be another story, Let's see."
Lina arrived about 10:20 a.m. and waited for Bibit until 12:25 p.m. After that, he decided to ahead with Lim's installation.
(April 28, 2005 issue)
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