RAPPLER | CORRUPTION CASES | Customs chief resigns after being charged in pork barrel case

ALLIES. Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon tenders his irrevocable resignation to President Benigno Aquino III during a meeting on Monday, December 2. Photo from Biazon's Twitter account

Philippine Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon resigned Monday, December 2, three days after the justice department implicated him in the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam. Biazon, a member of the ruling Liberal Party, is the first party mate of President Benigno Aquino implicated in the corruption scandal, where lawmakers allegedly siphoned funds to fake non-governmental organizations in exchange for hefty kickbacks. Biazon is accused of pocketing P1.95 million of his pork barrel during his 2007-2010 term as Muntinlupa congressman. He denied the accusations. Last July, Biazon offered to resign after Aquino hit the Bureau of Customs' alleged incompetence and corruption in his State of the Nation Address. Aquino did not accept his resignation then. Biazon said he is resigning to "give way to new leadership," whose credibility will not be questioned.