Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim is committed to support the administration of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III in his elected capacity.

“I will always be a team player for the (Aquino) administration, particularly in my capacity as Mayor of the City of Manila,” Lim said.

Lim issued this statement to clear speculations that he is being considered to head the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), a position which the President decided to hold temporarily while negotiations with prospective candidates for the post are on-going.

News circulating around indicated that Lim, who has already served as the DILG secretary under President Joseph Estrada, is in the list of candidates for the Cabinet post.

He stressed that he can very well serve the Chief Executive without abdicating his mandate as the duly elected top official of the City of Manila.

Here is Mayor Lim’s statement in full: “I have no intention of vacating my post as Mayor of the City of Manila for another position contrary to the reports that came out today. I owe it to my constituents who gave me their enormous trust and confidence to not turn my back on them and my responsibilities.

There are so many things to do in the city and the task is enormous. I would like to make it clear that I did not, and will not apply for any position in the administration of President Noynoy Aquino.”

Arevalo now Customs OIC
Customs Deputy Commissioner Alexander “Balong” Arevalo officially heads the Bureau of Customs (BoC) in acting capacity beginning this Monday while President Aquino continues to scout for people to fill in the remaining vacancies in his Cabinet.

Arevalo, who heads the BoC’s Management Information System and Technology Group (MISTG), will temporarily take the Customs portfolio until such time the President has finalized his choice for Customs Commissioner.

The top post was vacated by former President Arroyo’s appointee, Napoleon Morales, last June 30.

A Customs official, who is privy to his supposed appointment, said Arevalo will take over as officer-in-charge of the BoC for the next two weeks starting this Monday.

The insider said Arevalo is a strong contender to keep the post since the latter reportedly has close ties with the Aquino family.

“DepCom (deputy commissioner) Arevalo has higher chances to take the post because he is a former classmate of Pinky Aquino. It has been known to us that Noynoy (President Aquino) listens to his siblings,” the BoC official said.

But Arevalo flatly denied direct ties with the Aquino family or the President’s sister, Aurora Corazon “Pinky” Aquino-Abellada.

“No that’s not true (on ties with Aquino family). I have not even been told of the appointment. I am the most senior deputy commissioner so when Commissioner Morales left, I had to take over,” Arevalo told the Manila Bulletin in a telephone interview on Sunday.

If Arevalo is indeed in top contention, a member of Aquino’s Cabinet who declined to be identified said it would be based on the merits of Arevalo’s performance and standing in the BoC.

Arevalo, 51, is the most senior deputy commissioner of the bureau and holds a Career Executive Service Officer 3 (CESO 3) rank since 2001.

There are 27 CESO positions in the Customs bureau but only nine of those currently holding office are CESO holders.

Arevalo served under three Presidents – as Executive Assistant 3 to former President Fidel V. Ramos; Presidential Assistant for Information and Communications Technology to former President Joseph E. Estrada; and the same for former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who transferred him to the BoC to supervise the automation of Customs processing in 2001.

He is known in the BoC as the architect of the Electronic-to-Mobile Customs System, a P500-million project launched in 2007 to see through the automation of import processes in all ports and subports in the country.

“That program is nearing completion this month so that the import process from accreditation to manifest to filing to payment to risk-management and release and post entry audit in all ports in the country are automated. That’s 32 different customs systems under a seamless process,” Arevalo said.

A Harvard graduate (Masters in Public Administration), Arevalo also completed his Masters in Business Administration from the Asian Institute of Management and graduated cum laude of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1982.

The race is also moving to toss up by the day involving FedEx President Lito Alvarez who got a much-needed endorsement from Bert Lina of the so-called Hyatt 10. Lina is the local franchise owner of FedEx and a former Customs commissioner.

Aside from the BoC commissioner, President Aquino has not chosen anyone for the Department of the Interior and Local Government post. There is also no permanent secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (Raymund F. Antonio and Nate C. Barretto)