Lapeña names new MICP district collector

Pursuant to CPO No. B-237-2018, Atty. Balmyrson Valdez assumed office as acting district collector of MICP, effective August 23, 2018. (Photo: Bureau of Customs PH/Facebook)

MANILA — Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Isidro Lapeña has appointed lawyer Balmyrson Valdez as the new District Collector of the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

BOC spokesperson lawyer Erastus Sandino Austria said the new head of the said port officially reported to his new post on Thursday.

Valdez replaced lawyer Vener Baquiran.

“Atty. Balmyrson Valdez would be taking over as the district collector of MICP today (Thursday),” he said in an interview.

Austria noted that Baquiran was replaced based on two reasons – his failure to meet the monthly target and the standard procedure to relieve the person in command, if there is an investigation in a particular port.

In the case of the MICP, there is a probe on how several shipments of shabu slipped past Customs officials.

“The Commissioner has said in the past that consistent with his one strike policy, that is one ground and regarding the shabu shipment. It is the standard protocol of the Commissioner if there is an investigation in a particular port, he would also relieve the person in command. That’s the standard,” he explained.

Austria, who is also the district collector of Port of Manila, added that it is the second time for Valdez to serve as head of the MICP.

“He started middle of January until end of March at MICP,” Austria said.

Several shipments of magnetic lifters allegedly containing shabu worth billions of pesos reportedly slipped past the BOC particularly the MICP.