NEPOMUCENO RETURNS TO BOC AS COMMISSIONER

NEARLY seven years after resigning from his post as Bureau of Customs (BOC) Assistant Commissioner in 2018, Ariel Nepomuceno has returned, this time, as the head of the agency after being appointed last June 30, 2025 by President Marcos Jr., as Commissioner of Customs.

At the time of his appointment, Nepomuceno is serving as the undersecretary supervising the operations of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council/Office of Civil Defense (NDRRMC/OCD), a crucial unit under the Department of National Defense (DND).

Nepomuceno would be President Marcos’ third customs commissioner after Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio (February 2023 to June 2025) and Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz (July 2022 to February 2023).

Nepomuceno’s return also resulted to major changes in some key positions at the BOC with the appointment by Malacañang of five other high-ranking bureau officials.

Collector Romeo Allan ‘RR’ Rosales is the new ‘DCI’ (Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence), replacing retired Philippine Army MGen. Juvymax Uy; former police general Nolasco Bathan replaced Atty. Teddy Raval as ‘DCE’ (Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement) while former Import Assessment Service (IAS) director, Atty. Agaton Teodoro Uvero is the new Deputy Commissioner for Assessment Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG), in place of Atty. Vener Baquiran.

Veteran BOC intelligence executive Verne Enciso was replaced by Thomas Narcise, a prominent figure in the brokerage/logistics business as director of the ‘CIIS’ (Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service), the operational arm of the Intelligence Group.

On the other hand, Collector Alexandra Lumontad is the new district collector at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Collection District, vice Collector Atty. Yasmin O. Mapa.

On formally assuming their new posts last July 1 with a warm welcome from Rubio, Nepomuceno “reaffirmed” his full commitment to the President’s directives of focusing on the agency’s core mandates: boosting revenue collection, facilitating legitimate trade, combating smuggling, and fostering a professional and integrity-driven workforce.

Performance that needs to be matched

During his tenure, Rubio steered the BOC to record revenue collections of P883 billion in 2023 and over P916 billion in 2024.

Under his guidance and with the supervision of DCI Uy, the BOC also historic seizures of smuggled goods and contrabands, amounting to more than P43.29 billion in 2023 and almost double this amount at P 85.16 billion in 2024 through more than 2,100 anti-smuggling operations.

Rubio’s administration also pushed for continued digitalization of Customs processes, reaching to 96.99 percent automation, equivalent to 161 of 166 its core customs processes.

Halt, review of LOA implementation

In his major policy directive, Commissioner Nepomuceno last July 2 suspended the implementation of all previously approved but unserved Letters of Authority (LOAs) and Mission Orders (MOs).

The directive applies to all LOAs and MOs issued prior to that date that have yet to be served and covers all units under the Intelligence and Enforcement Groups.

The Customs Chief also directed DCI Rosales and DCE Bathan to submit a comprehensive status report on all LOAs and MOs issued from January 1 to June 30, 2025, within 24 hours.

“We are implementing this step to clearly determine what actions are still pending and to ensure that all enforcement efforts are legally sound, properly documented, and aligned with the Bureau’s direction,” he said.

A BOC statement added the suspension is part of a broader effort by Comm. Nepomuceno to restore discipline in field operations, prevent unauthorized or outdated enforcement activities, and reinforce the agency’s commitment to lawful and transparent practices.