Philippine Customs chief resigns amid fund mess

Philippine Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino resigned Monday amid allegations that he misused his pork barrel when he was still a congressman of Muntinlupa City in the country's capital region of Metro Manila. Philippine President Benigno Aquino III accepted Biazon's irrevocable resignation and gave him until the end of the week to wind up his affairs in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and to ensure an orderly transfer. Biazon said he chose to resign to defend himself without compromising his past record or the ongoing reforms in the BOC. He was one of the 34 former congressmen and government officials charged before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly misusing their pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund.