Ex-PDEA exec is new Customs chief
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has named Yogi Filemon Ruiz as the new Bureau of Customs (BOC) acting commissioner, Malacañang confirmed.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles made the announcement a day after a white paper circulating at the BOC revealed that Ruiz would take over the position previously occupied by Rey Guerrero.
According to Angeles, Ruiz took his oath before Presiden Marcos in Malacañang on Wednesday, July 20.
Ruiz was the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 7 director for a year before he moved to the BOC in 2017.
He was appointed as the BOC Director of Enforcement and Security Services (ESS) in 2017 by his former boss at the PDEA, then-Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña.
As ESS chief, Ruiz was responsible for the BOC’s Water Patrol Division and security in ports.
Ruiz is the latest addition to Marcos’ appointees.
This week, the President swore in Ma. Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Loyzaga was the chairperson of the International Advisory Board of the Manila Observatory, where she advocated for more scientific research on climate and disaster resilience.
She served as Manila Observatory executive director and Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation technical adviser.