Manila, July 1 -- Strengthen border protection and intensify the government's campaign against smuggling.

These were President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s marching orders to newly appointed Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno as he takes the helm of one of the country's most critical revenue-generating and border protection agencies.

"Unang-una po, strengthen 'yung border protection at labanan nga po ang smuggling. Nag-uumpisa na po ang pamahalaan sa mas matinding laban sa smuggling (First of all, strengthen border protection and fight smuggling. The government is now starting a more intensified campaign against smuggling)," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing Tuesday when asked about the Presiden...