The overall reform program of the Bureau of Customs will not be significantly affected by the issuance of a 72-hour Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued by Manila Regional Trial Court (MTC) Judge Marino De La Cruz Jr. on the implementation of Customs Personnel Order (CPO) no. B-189-2013 transferring all Collectors five (5) and six (6) of the Bureau of Customs to the newly created Customs Policy Research Office (CPRO) at the Department of Finance.

This was the statement of Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon amid the MTC’s issuance of the TRO last October 1, 2013. “The transfer of customs collectors 5 and 6 to the CPRO is just part of a bigger reform agenda for the BOC. We have other reform measures already being undertaken in the BOC. So we don’t see the TRO as a major setback to this administration’s thrust to reform the Bureau of Customs.” Biazon said, adding that “ We will respect the decision of the court, just as we also respect the decision of all the TRO petitioners to avail of their right to seek court judgement on the issue.”

Biazon, however, stressed that the BOC and the Department of Finance (DOF) will also present its position on the issue at the MTC sala within the prescribed period.

The issuance of CPO affected 27 senior collectors of the BOC. Among them were Manila International Container Port (MICP) Collector Ricardo Belmonte Jr., Port of Manila Collector Rogel Gatchalian and, Ninoy Aquino International Airport Collector Ricardo So. However, only 15 of the affected collectors sought the court’s intervension for their concerns.

According to Biazon, the BOC’s reform program will not be sidetracked by the TRO, saying that, reforming the BOC is among President Simeon Benigno Aquino III’s major government reform agenda.

“The President has spoken before about the needed reforms in the BOC, and we have to follow .” Biazon said., even as he called on all BOC officials to follow suit. “This is a call for all in the BOC to join us in these reform efforts. After all, in the end, if we succeed in reforming the BOC, it is not only the individuals involved who will be given the distinction, but the BOC as an institution.”

“We should be involved in this opportunity to reform the BOC and be part of a customs legacy that pushed for real reforms in the bureau.” Biazon called on the customs community, even as he added that, “ The problem on corruption in the BOC has been there for decades.”

Biazon also confirmed that he has received several words of encouragement for leading the administration’s reform agenda for the BOC, saying that, some stakeholders say that it is about time for drastic reforms to be done in the BOC.