BOC spokesperson Vincent Philip Maronilla. (Screengrab from Laging Handa public briefing)
MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday said it is ready to cooperate with authorities in the course of the investigation on corruption allegations hounding the bureau.
"We have been fully cooperating with the Ombudsman with the cases pending with them and those being investigated. Needless to state, the BOC is ready to provide any access to any records or documents requested or needed by the Office of the Ombudsman," BOC spokesperson Vincent Philip Maronilla said in a Viber message.
Maronilla's remarks came after Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles urged Customs Commissioner Guerrero to prove that he is prepared to do everything to defeat corruption at the BOC by providing the Ombudsman full access to transactions of his former chief of staff, lawyer Teodoro Jumamil, while he was still with the bureau.
He added that Jumamil is no longer connected with the bureau since last year.
“Atty. Teodoro Jumamil is no longer connected with the Bureau of Customs. His engagement with the BOC has been severed since July 9, 2019, and notices to our personnel and to the transacting public has been given on this,” Maronilla said.
He added that the bureau has yet to issue an official statement reiterating Jumamil's severance with the BOC.
“We will issue a reiteration on his severance to the Bureau to remind the public that he is no longer connected with BOC,” he added.
On Wednesday, Nograles urged Guerrero to declare Jumamil persona non grata on all Customs facilities to ensure that he can no longer assert any amount of influence over his former office and other stakeholders.
"Commissioner Guerrero should issue a simple memo to all including all port operators and brokers warning the public on transacting with Jumamil. This will show the commitment of the Commissioner to follow the call of the President," the lawmaker added.
He added that this will also prove that Guerrero is not covering up for Jumamil.
In a public address aired on Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte asked the Department of Justice to look into anomalies hounding the bureau as he called out Jumamil for being a corrupt official.
Guerrero earlier fired Jumamil due to corruption allegations. (PNA)
