Malacañang Palace on Thursday, 19 February 2026, clarified that Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno will not be replaced, contrary to earlier reports circulating on social media.

“Ang kumakalat na sinasabing papalitan, si Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, ay wala pong katotohanan. Ang lumalabas po na dokumentong iyan ay ibibigay po natin mismo sa NBI dahil marami na po talaga ang namimihasa/umaabuso sa kanilang mga sinasabing freedom of expression,” said Palace press officer, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro, during a Palace briefing.

Nepomuceno was appointed on 30 June 2025, while the alleged fake ‘appointment paper,’ dated 2 February 2026, was posted online.

“So, iyan po ay ipapaalam at ihahatid natin sa NBI para makita at maimbestigahan kung saan nanggagaling ang mga pekeng impormasyon na iyan,” she added.

Intelligence reshuffle

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) Intelligence Division has undergone a minor reshuffle.

In a letter dated 12 December 2025, BOC-Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Romeo Allan Rosales ordered the temporary assignment of Paul Oliver Pacunayen, Intelligence Officer III of the BOC-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Office (CIIS), to the IG-Office of the Deputy Commissioner.

The order was issued “pending investigation by the Bureau of Customs of alleged corrupt acts” involving Pacunayen, who is the subject of a complaint regarding alleged smuggling activities in the Port of Manila (POM).

“He (Pacunayen) shall refrain from engaging in any operational activities outside the scope of this temporary assignment unless expressly authorized,” the order stated, adding that the officer shall report directly to the IG-Office of the Deputy Commissioner and shall perform duties as directed by Rosales.

Similarly, lawyer Allen Dela Cruz, chief of the Intelligence Division, CIIS-IG, is temporarily assigned as Office Caretaker of the POM-Field Station of CIIS, according to the BOC order.

Dela Cruz is tasked with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the POM, CIIS-IG, “and ensuring continuity of functions.”