President Benigno Aquino 3rd has talked with Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon, a defeated candidate for senator, for Bizaon’s possible appointment to a Cabinet post, a Malacañang official said on Thursday.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. disclosed this during a chance interview at the House of Representatives after a hearing on the Office of the President’s budget.
“I understand that the President and Ruffy talked but I am not at liberty to disclose the conclusion of the meeting,” he told reporters.
Ochoa’s statement seemed to confirm earlier reports that Biazon, a former lawmaker representing Muntinlupa City (Metro Manila), would replace embattled Bureau of Customs chief Angelito Alvarez.
Ruffy Biazon is a son of former senator and now Rep. Rodolfo Biazon of Muntinlupa City.
Alvarez has been under fire over 1,910 container vans that were declared missing, resulting in P240 million in lost revenues for the government.
“I would not want to comment on that [Ruffy Biazon’s appointment] yet because there is no document that definitely says that he has been appointed. Let us wait for the right time for it. But we all know (Ruffy) Biazon. He is a good guy,” Ochoa said.
Should Ruffy Biazon’s appointment push through, he will be the third Liberal Party (LP) candidate to be appointed to the Cabinet after losing in last year’s May elections.
Former Sen. Manuel Roxas 2nd, who lost the race for Vice President to former Mayor Jejomar Binay of Makati City (also in Metro Manila), was appointed secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications last June.
Losing LP bet for senator Nereus Acosta was appointed Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection on Wednesday.
Former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Liwayway Chato is rumored to be the next Customs chief.
Nothing official
But another Malacañang official on Thursday belied rumors of Alvarez leaving the Cabinet.
The Customs chief himself said that he has no plans of leaving his post.
“Tinext ko po kay Pangulo iyong tanong ng Malacañang Press Corps kahapon at sabi niya he is not aware of any resignation on that part. So hindi ko po alam kung anong susunod na decision ni Pangulong Aquino [I texted the question from the Malacañang Press Corps on the resignation of Secretary Alvarez yesterday (Wednesday) and he told me that he is not aware of that matter. So I don’t know what will be the next decision of President Aquino],” spokesman Edwin Lacierda said during a press briefing also on Thursday.
He added that he was yet to confirm with Mr. Aquino reports that the President plans to replace Alvarez.
“Kahapon kasi maugong iyong baliting nagbitiw na si Lito Alvarez at papalitan ni Ruffy Biazon [News of Alvarez getting replaced by Ruffy Biazon was getting much attention yesterday (Wednesday)]. I’ll ask the President for a categorical statement on that point,” Lacierda said.
But Alvarez himself also on Thursday denied that he was resigning as head of the Customs bureau.
In the wake of the filing of charges against consignees and brokers allegedly involved in the disappearance of the 1,910 container vans before the Department of Justice also on Thursday, he said that he would continue to serve under the administration of President Aquino.
“I will serve with humility and integrity until such time that the President will tell me to stop because there is already a replacement on board,” Alvarez added.
He said that he was not planning to resign as Customs chief because he would not want to make his detractors happy, adding that his action against smugglers has spawned a demolition job against him.
Llanesca T. Panti, Maria Nikka U. Garriga and Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
