Former councilor appointed Customs collector

A FORMER Cebu City councilor has been appointed as the new Port of Cebu district collector of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Rico Rey Francis “Koko” Holganza is replacing retired general Arnulfo Marcos, who served in Cebu for eight months.

“He (Marcos) said as a good soldier, he will follow orders from superiors. He has no complaints on the order,” Kenneth Sesante, BOC Port of Cebu chief of staff, said.

Based on an order posted on the BOC website, Holganza and seven others were appointed to replace the Office of Revenue Agency Modernization (Oram) officers, whose budget was disapproved.

The Department of Finance reassigned Customs district collectors to the Customs Policy Research Office (CPRO) in 2013 and appointed in their place retired generals forming the ORAM.

They were tasked to implement a system and process enhancement to improve revenues based on their “integrity, management skills and capabilities.”

Marcos is among the eight ORAM officers. Retired generals will be replaced by next-in-rank officers effective immediately. Holganza will assume his post within this week. “He (Holganza) is in Manila for an appointment,” Sesante added.

Holganza was the chief for the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and a former member of the legal division of the BOC Port of Cebu.

Read more...