MANILA – Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. on Thursday urged Bureau of Customs (BOC) commissioner John Sevilla to name people behind the ‘political pressure’ that prompted him to step down.
”I think he should reveal who pressured him. Since he resigned already, he might as well reveal this political pressure so that it will not happen again in the future,” Marcos said.
”I think if he was claiming it was a political pressure, then some illegal is being requested from him,” he added.
Senator Bam Aquino agreed with Marcos that Sevilla should divulge more about the political pressure.
”Yes, why not, I think he should name. Anyway, it was his reason for stepping down,” Aquino said.
With Sevilla’s resignation, Aquino said the government has lost an outstanding public servant who imposed honest-to-goodness reform in the BOC.
”His resignation is unfortunate since we are seeing the fruits of the reforms that he started within the agency, especially against smuggling and collection efficiency,” Aquino said.
Aquino said it is imperative that the next commissioner will continue the reforms initiated by Sevilla in just one year stay in the bureau.
”Let us fast track the passage of the Customs and Tariff Modernization Act to modernize and systematize the processes, making it more efficient and transparent,” Aquino said.
Marcos said he was shocked by Sevilla’s resignation particularly the reason behind his decision considering the country will be holding national elections in May next year.
”That’s very interesting to know. I wanted to know what does he mean exactly. Is this 2016 political pressure. Who pressured him?,” Marcos said.