By: Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
President Duterte has appointed to the Department of Transportation two officials of the Bureau of Customs who resigned over the P6.4-billion shabu shipment seized last May in Valenzuela City.
Official Palace documents released yesterday showed Duterte appointed former Deputy Customs Commissioner Gerardo Gambala as Director IV of the DOTr Office of the Transportation Security vice Roberto Almadin.
On the other hand, former Customs Import Assessment Services Director Milo Maestrecampo was named Assistant Director General II of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. Maestrocampo replaced Gustavo Atencia.
The OTS and CAAP are both under the DoTr.
Maestrecampo and Gambala were among the 20 former Magdalo soldiers that then Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon appointed when he assumed office July last year.
Meanwhile, Duterte transferred embattled Bureau of Internal Revenue Deputy Commissioner Jesus Clint Aranas to Government Service Insurance System.
Aranas’ appointment paper, signed by Duterte last Nov. 7, stated that Aranas is appointed as a member of the board of trustees of the GSIS.
He will be serving until June 30, 2018 or the remaining months in the term of Francisco T. Duque III who vacated the position after he was appointed as the new Health Secretary replacing Paulyn Ubial last month.
Aranas said Duterte personally informed him about his appointment to the GSIS board. “I did not apply for the position. This offer came from the President,” Aranas said.
He added that he will be appointed as president and general manager of the GSIS. “That’s what the President told me,” Aranas said.
Aranas has been at odds with BIR Commissioner Cesar Dulay.
He wanted to investigate why the BIR accepted P65.4 million from Del Monte Philippines Inc. to settle its tax discrepancies for three years totalling P8.7 billion.
A plunder case against Dulay and other BIR officials was filed because of this.
