Ruffy Biazon resigns as Customs chief

Personally, I hate to see Ruffy Biazon go. For one, he is dead serious in reforming the Bureau of Customs. Two, he is the kind of man that will do whatever is necessary to realize a vision, a dream and that is, institute changes in our system.

And you know, when you fight the forces of evil, these demons in barong would do everything necessary to see you to your grave. And sometimes, they succeed.

In this case, however, Ruffy has to choose between what is good and what is necessary. It is to the best interest of the Bureau of Customs that he stays on as its chief. It is not good if one sees the person fighting the forces of evil now in the midst of a controversy.

However, it is necessary for him to resign because this issue might be used by forces against him. Imagine, how can he lead an agency against corruption when he himself is being accused of "profiting from it" when he was still a Congressman?

Admit it--Biazon just lost the moral ascendancy or shall we say, the moral initiative of leading this fight against corruption bedevilling the Customs agency.

Someone "clean" or "new" should head the agency, someone whom the public does not know.

One thing that kept reforms from being implemented in the Bureau of Customs is the fact that a known politician was appointed to the post. Everyone knows how a politician behaves. To be a successful politician in these parts, one needs to be "very accommodating".

Biazon served in Congress for two (?) terms, and I'm sure he was knowledgeable about the "wheeling and dealing" that happened there, which is part of the dynamics of politics.

Now, how can a politician lead a serious dig at reforms, when everyone knows that he is part of the system which most people describe as "corrupt and decrepit"?

How then can you reform or discipline an erring Customs man when he knows that you were once a part of this corruption?

Look at the history of the Bureau of Customs. The most successful reformers of the bureau came either from the ranks or from the military establishment.

Mention the likes of Factoran and Mison and you get some shivers down your spine. These reformers came from the military ranks and they were able to institute reforms within the very system because they gained the respect of those inside the bureau and fear from those who want to squeeze every juice out of it.

The President must appoint someone in the likes of say, Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Ariel Nepomuceno who came from the private ranks and knows the system very well, without being a major part of it.

Nepomuceno is an idealist yet knows how to balance between reality and his visions for change. If the President appoints a military man at the helm of this agency, then, nothing will change because people will perceive the bureau as somewhat a "garrison state", an "extension" of the military establishment.

I am not sowing intrigues but, it is time that a civilian who came from the business and the military industrial complex to lead the reforms within the bureau of customs.

It would be a very nice legacy of President Aquino if he successfully reforms the customs or at least, establish a strong perception that the bureau has been "reformed". You cannot do that with a controversial appointment of say, General Dellosa, who is now being intrigued as a person too close for comfort to Mar Roxas. The "win-win" here is appoint someone very determined to see a highly perceived corrupt agency cleansed of its perceived filth immediately.

Pnoy has awakened from his stupor and the refugees along Roxas Boulevard

There are exciting things happening right now that, unfortunately, I am not at liberty at disclosing all. What is certain is that this president is dead serious in reforming the system. When I realized that certain persons are being given nation-building tasks, I told myself that there is still hope, somewhat.

What our people need is something new, something that will give us, hope. What happened in Leyte will have a catastrophic effect in the entire country very soon, as peoples from Manila and the rest of the country have relatives who died or affected by this natural disaster.

Try to drive along Roxas boulevard and you"ll find numerous tents set up by refugees from Leyte. Ask around and you"ll know that these people were victims of Typhoon Haiyan. They were so traumatized that they followed their instinct and decided to leave their hometowns. They don't have relatives here.

The entire country is still in a state of disbelief. Most want to leave our country. I know of some who want to migrate and live in another country.

President Aquino should put his act together and at least bring a message or sign of hope for all of us.  What things Pnoy should do for the next few weeks that would bring hope for all of us:

1. Call for a Cabinet reshuffling. I don't know what prevents this President from doing this. Hey, there are a lot of controversies already happening in his cabinet that it is time to convince some to retire.  What is so wrong with asking some people to leave his cabinet, especially if these people prevent him from doing the right thing?

2. Ask GOCC officials to tender their resignations. Hey, the head of the mwss, this Esquivel, is reportedly very close and "very influential" to the president, he, being a bosom buddy of the President. Yet, he is actually causing so much trouble at the MWSS and his actions even threaten the condition of the metro's water distribution system. Esquivel is a contractor. He got his wealth by dubious means, according to some people.

3. Continue appointing new blood in the bureaucracy. We need fresh minds to tend to the old problems of the bureaucracy. When Pnoy appointed Fred Mison at the Bureau of Immigration, changes immediately happened there. Revenues were even exceeded.

I just got word that those whom he appointed at the Bureau of Customs are all honest men, especially, Ariel Nepomuceno, the deputy Commish of the Bureau's enforcement unit. We need more of these people, and less of the Esquivel kind.

Five Great Patriots

When I was still studying at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, I had the chance to befriend five great men, and I'm not ashamed to write them all here because I believe that, given the chance, they definitely would contribute towards a better Philippines.

Let's start off with Bong Bongolan. Bong used to be our student Council Chairman. He ran and won under SAMASA, the dominant student political party during our time. I remember that it was during his term that I also ran for the CSSP vice chairmanship post and won. Bong is a very intelligent man. He's one of the best economists. He's now helping the government thru the National Home Finance Corporation (?). Bong has brilliant ideas and given the chance, he'll be a very good Congressman should he choose to run.

Alex Lacson was my "kuya" when I stayed for four years at the Narra dormitory (now closed after a great fire). He finished his law studies and I think, is now in private practice. Last time I heard, he ran and lost in the running for a local post in his hometown in Bacolod. We're supposed to be fraternity brothers but sadly, I choose to be with the masses.

One of Mike Defensor's best buddy (and frat brother) Miro Quimbo, finished his studies at UP Law and went on to become of one of this country's best lawyers. When Mike started his political career as a QC councilor, Miro has been with him since then. After EDSA dos, Miro was appointed as president of Pag-Ibig. I have'nt heard one single graft case or complaint against Miro. In fact, I think that Pag-Ibig is one of the best performers among government's companies. There are talks that Miro will be running for a local post in Marikina. Miro deserves to win.

There's another one, Ariel Nepomuceno, who also ran as one of our best student councilors in my time. Ariel helped form the Independent Student Alliance (ISA). The last time that we met was so many years ago. He was appointed as VP of the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI). After that, no more news about him. Should he decides to run for a local post, he'll have my firm support.

Lastly, there's another one and his name is Atty. Jijil Jimenez. Jimenez was also a former student council chairman. When he finished his law studies at the UP, Jijil decided to carve a career at the labor department, serving I think as attache. Sometime ago, he was appointed as Deputy Administrator of the OWWA. Last time I heard, he ran for a congressional (?) post in his province and lost. He's now in private practice but should he decide to run, he'll have my support.