Bernie Anabo Jr.
When anti-crime advocates start handing out plaques, you know somebody is doing something right.
And this time, the spotlight landed squarely on Special Deputy Collector Dr. Siegfried “Yeye” L. Manaois of the Bureau of Customs–Port of NAIA.
On August 28, 2026, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) recognized Manaois during its 28th Founding Anniversary ceremonies at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center in Camp BGen Rafael T. Crame, Quezon City.
This was not a courtesy handshake.
This was not a ceremonial photo opportunity.
This was a public recognition from an anti-crime and anti-corruption organization—and Manaois earned his place among the honorees.
That distinction matters.
Because in an agency constantly challenged to prove that reform is more than a slogan, recognition from outside the Bureau carries a different kind of weight.
YEYE MANAOIS: RESULTS OVER RHETORIC
At the Port of NAIA, Dr. Manaois has become closely associated with the operational execution of Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno’s Integrity, Accountability, and Modernization (IAM) agenda under the leadership of District Collector Atty. Maria Yasmin M. Obillos Mapa.
And the numbers and operational record tell their own story.
The Paircargo Assessment Composite Division, under Manaois’ stewardship, generated ₱26.42 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2025, surpassing its official collection target.
But revenue is only one part of the equation.
The division also achieved Zero Audit Findings during ISO surveillance audits—a result that speaks directly to discipline, systems, documentation and internal controls.
Then comes the tougher battlefield:
Border security.
Manaois and his team have been involved in strategic coordination connected to major illegal-drug interdictions and efforts against large-scale smuggling.
That is where Customs leadership is tested—not behind desks, but where billions of pesos in legitimate trade, government revenue and national security intersect.
NO ROOM FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL
Commissioner Nepomuceno’s IAM strategy is built around a simple but powerful message:
Integrity. Accountability. Modernization.
Three words—but a direct challenge to the old culture of bureaucratic complacency.
Digitalization is being pushed to reduce human intervention and red tape.
Intelligence-sharing is being strengthened to hit smugglers before they can exploit the system.
Post-clearance audits are being used to strengthen accountability.
And at the operational level, officials like Manaois are expected to translate those policies into actual results.
That is where the rubber meets the road.
Policies written in Manila mean little if they collapse at the port.
But when systems produce revenue, withstand audits and contribute to border-security operations, reform becomes measurable.
A PLAQUE WITH A MESSAGE
The VACC recognition of Manaois came alongside the recognition of officials and personalities from the PNP, NBI, PAO, DOJ, Supreme Court, local government and the media.
Among those honored were PAO Chief Atty. Persida Rueda Acosta, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, senior police and NBI officials, prosecutors, Supreme Court Associate Justice Raul B. Villanueva, and veteran journalists Jessica Soho, Gus Abelgas and John Consulta.
The Guest of Honor was PNP Chief PGen Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr.
Placed in that company, the recognition of Dr. Yeye Manaois becomes even more significant.
It sends a message.
That Customs personnel who deliver measurable results, uphold institutional controls and support the fight against criminality can—and should—be recognized.
THE REAL TEST STARTS AFTER THE PLAQUE
But let’s be brutally honest.
An award is not a license to relax.
It is a challenge to do even better.
The Customs Bureau remains under a microscope. Every shipment, every assessment, every seizure, every peso collected and every official decision can affect public confidence.
That is precisely why the recognition of Manaois should not be treated merely as another award in a government official’s display cabinet.
It should be treated as accountability with a spotlight.
The public is watching.
The smugglers are watching.
The Customs community is watching.
And if Commissioner Nepomuceno is serious about transforming the BOC through IAM, then the frontline performers must continue proving that integrity can coexist with aggressive enforcement, modernization and revenue excellence.
THE MANAOIS MESSAGE
Dr. Siegfried “Yeye” Manaois represents a particularly important idea in public service:
Performance is the strongest defense against cynicism.
You can issue memoranda.
You can launch programs.
You can deliver speeches.
But ultimately, the public wants results.
At NAIA, the challenge is enormous: protect the borders, facilitate legitimate commerce, collect the correct
revenue and stop those who attempt to abuse the system.
The VACC plaque is recognition that, in that battlefield, Manaois has been delivering.
And perhaps the most explosive message of all is this:
The fight against corruption cannot be won by slogans.
It is won by officials willing to stand on systems, discipline and measurable performance.
It is won by leaders who understand that public office is not a privilege to be exploited—but a responsibility to be proven every single day.
Dr. Yeye Manaois has received the plaque.
Now comes the harder part:
Keep delivering. Keep enforcing. Keep the standards high.
Because in the new Customs landscape, results are no longer optional—and accountability is no longer negotiable.
