MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 2, 2013) – Philippine customs chief Rozzano Rufino Biazon has resigned after being accused of channeling state funds when he was a lawmaker to fictitious nongovernmental organization linked to a controversial wealthy businesswoman allegedly behind a multi-billion scam.
Biazon, whose father Rodolfo Biazon was a former Philippine military chief and senator, said he resigned to save his family from further humiliation brought about by the allegations that he channeled funds to Janet Napoles’ foundation, an accusation he strongly denied.
President Benigno Aquino has accepted the ‘irrevocable” resignation of Biazon.
“This afternoon, I met with Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon, who submitted to me his irrevocable resignation. In his letter to me, and in our conversation, he explained that it would be best to provide the Secretary of Finance the widest leverage and flexibility to steer the future direction of the Bureau of Customs, in light of the controversy brought about by Commissioner Biazon’s inclusion in the complaint of the National Bureau of Investigation before the Ombudsman,” Aquino said.
He said Biazon believes that the proper thing to do is to defend himself without compromising his past record, or the ongoing reforms in the Bureau of Customs.
“He is especially concerned with protecting his family, in particular his children, from the effects of a public controversy. I have given Commissioner Biazon until the end of the week to wind up his affairs in the Bureau of Customs, in order to ensure an orderly transfer. I thank him for his years of service to our administration and the nation. I wish him nothing but the best as he returns to private life,” said Aquino, who previously criticized corruptions in the Bureau of Customs. (Mindanao Examiner)
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