The Bureau of Customs (BoC) asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday to exempt them from the election ban in order to proceed with its high-intensity revamp of port collectors nationwide months ahead of the national elections.

An official of Customs who refused to be identified said that the filing of exemption before Comelec will preclude its pending reshuffle of seven district collectors assigned in major ports from being adversely affected by the election ban.

The Comelec forbids government agencies to transfer its personnel during election period, which started last January 10.

The official said that it was Finance Secretary Margarito Teves who ordered the movement of BoC personnel as revenue collections have been on the wane since last year when the agency incurred a shortfall of P50 billion.

“The reshuffle in BoC was also meant to ensure that tax collections during the election season will all go to government coffers,” he said.

The same source said Port of Subic collector Marietta Zamoranos may take charge of the Port of Manila (PoM) replacing lawyer Rogel Gatchalian contrary to reports that he will be replaced by former Cebu collector Ricardo Belmonte, who was transferred to the Office of the Commissioner recently.

Gatchalian will be assigned as the new district collector of the Manila International Container Port (MICP) as replacement of lawyer Adelina Molina who will be sent to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Other BoC personnel affected by the revamp are NAIA district collector Carlos So Port of Batangas collector John Tan, and newly appointed Cebu district collector Ronnie Silvestre.

The BoC already reshuffled some of the officials of the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) and personnel assigned at the bureau's X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) from various ports prior to the election and campaign period.

Port of Manila (PoM) district commander Joey Yuchongco was relieved and replaced by Major Ramon Policarpio, formerly of the Subic Freeport in Olongapo City.

Incidentally, he was allegedly involved in a sexual harassment case of a female processor in the Port of Subic.

Capt. Isidro Estrera, who was the chief of Customs San Fernando, La Union district office assumed the post vacated by Policarpio.

Lawyer and XIP chief Lourdes Mangaoang said 10 XIP personnel were likewise reshuffled to further improve revenue collections this year.