The intelligence division of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has implemented a minor reshuffle following corruption allegations involving one of its officers.
In a December 12, 2025 order, Intelligence Group deputy commissioner Romeo Allan Rosales temporarily reassigned Paul Oliver Pacunayen, an Intelligence Officer III at the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Office (CIIS), to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner. The move is pending an investigation into alleged corrupt activities linked to smuggling operations at the Port of Manila.
Under the order, Pacunayen is barred from conducting operational activities unless expressly authorized. He will report directly to the Deputy Commissioner’s office and carry out tasks assigned by Rosales.
At the same time, lawyer Allen Dela Cruz, chief of the CIIS Intelligence Division, was designated as temporary Office Caretaker of the Port of Manila Field Station. He has been tasked with overseeing daily operations and ensuring continuity of functions.
Pacunayen was among those named in a letter sent to Ferdinand Marcos Jr. by concerned BOC officials, employees, and stakeholders. The letter alleged that smuggling activities have resurfaced at the Port of Manila. CIIS director Thomas Narcise was also mentioned in the complaint.
The reshuffle signals the BOC leadership’s effort to contain potential misconduct within its intelligence ranks while an investigation is underway. By limiting the authority of the officer under scrutiny and installing a temporary caretaker at a key port, the agency aims to maintain operational stability and protect the integrity of ongoing anti-smuggling efforts.
The move also reflects heightened internal accountability following public allegations, underscoring the administration’s stated commitment to curb corruption and strengthen oversight in revenue-generating agencies.
