Following the resignation of Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon as Commissioner of Customs, President Benigno S. Aquino has tapped Finance Undersecretary John P. “Sunny” Sevilla to be detailed as Officer-in-Charge of the BOC.

Sevilla will temporarily step down from his position as the DOF’s Undersecretary for the Corporate Affairs Group and Privatization, a position he has held since 2010 in the current administration. Sevilla also served as Undersecretary for Privatization from 2006 to 2007.

Prior to serving as undersecretary at the DOF, Sevilla had worked as an executive director at the investment bank Goldman Sachs, and had also covered the Philippines as an associate director and sovereign rater for credit rating agency Standard and Poors’. Sevilla also served as Chief Operating Officer of Synergeia foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of public education in the Philippines. He graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Economics and Government and he holds a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from Princeton University.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima expressed his agreement with the President’s decision, noting that Sevilla’s financial expertise and track record of public service rendered him more than capable of continuing the President’s reform agenda for Customs.

“While it is a monumental challenge to fill the shoes left behind by Ruffy Biazon at Customs, we are in full support of the President’s decision to tap Undersecretary Sevilla for the job,” Purisima said.

“Leadership of the Bureau of Customs requires someone who is results-oriented and an expert on economics, international relations, and project implementation. These traits describe Sunny Sevilla perfectly. ”

“We recognize that it is our temporary loss at the DOF to see Undersecretary Sevilla go, but nevertheless, we wish him the best on this new opportunity to serve the country,” Purisima added.