BOC’s Nepomuceno quits

Hours after newly-installed Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Isidro Lapeña officially assumed office, Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno filed his courtesy resignation on Wednesday. (Photo: Bureau of Customs – http://www.customs.gov.ph/)

MANILA — Hours after newly-installed Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Isidro Lapeña officially assumed office, Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno filed his courtesy resignation on Wednesday.

In a one-page resignation letter addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte thru Lapeña, the BOC Enforcement Group (EG) chief said that while he is saddened by his decision, he believes his resignation will give the new BOC chief a chance to choose a successor whom he trusts.

“It is my deep regret that I tender my courtesy resignation as Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Group of the Bureau of Customs,” he said in his letter dated August 29 but was received by the Office of the Commissioner at 2:45 pm of Wednesday.

“I believe that my resignation shall enable the incoming commissioner to freely choose a replacement that he can trust in his challenging task. More importantly, it will also serve the purpose of allowing his Excellency to render his full support to the new commissioner by way of allowing a new team to manage the bureau,” Nepomuceno added.

With this, Nepomuceno expressed gratitude to the President for giving him the chance to work at the bureau and serve the people.

“I would like to thank his Excellency for providing me the chance to serve the country to the best of my abilities. Even in my capacity as a private citizen, I am still committed to helping this government achieve its lofty dreams for the Filipino people,” the EG chief said.

The Customs Deputy Commissioner added, “I will leave the Bureau of Customs very confident that the leadership of incoming Commissioner Gen. Isidro Lapeña shall bring the bureau to greater heights.”

Incidentally, the new BOC chief said that he will be bringing in some people at the bureau to help him implement reforms as directed by the President.

“I will be infusing some new blood that would serve as my direction, my purpose,” he said in his message at the turn-over ceremony with outgoing Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon on Wednesday.