BOC eyes P53B from smuggling cases filed

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is eyeing to collect P53 billion from the smuggling cases it has filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) since the start of the Aquino administration, Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said yesterday.

Alvarez said this shows that the agency is serious in its fight against smugglers.

He reiterated his earlier statement that calls for his ouster are “unjust and undeserved.”

Alvarez said that as head of the Bureau of Customs, he had uncovered the missing container scam and that he had initiated an investigation into the matter.

Some lawmakers have been calling for the ouster of Alvarez, saying that he has not been able to stop smuggling in the country.

During hearings at the House of Representatives on the case of some 2,000 missing containers which were supposed to be transshipped from Manila to Batangas, some lawmakers called the attention of Alvarez for not being able to address smuggling.

However, Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Farinas said that the Customs chief should be credited for his anti-smuggling efforts.

“With due respect, I do not share that view (the ouster of Commissioner Alvarez). It is good that we now hear about such smuggling activities, although belated. It was Commissioner Alvarez who brought this matter out instead of sweeping it under the rug. We should give him credit for such. He has ordered a thorough investigation, a copy of the initial results of which has been furnished our committee,” Farinas said during a recent hearing at the House of Representatives.

The BOC and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) regularly files cases before the Justice department against smugglers and tax evaders.

“In between these fortnightly filings, our agency’s revitalized campaign against smuggling had resulted in the seizure of more than P2 billion worth of assorted commodities that were either misdeclared, undervalued or misclassified by their importers,” Alvarez said.

In addressing the problem of the missing cargoes that were transshipped from Manila to Batangas between January and May this year, Alvarez said he had already ordered a ban on transshipment.

The only goods excluded from the ban are those bound for export processing zones and customs bonded warehouses.

He also said that had had already recommended the filing of charges against 14 Customs officials who may have been responsible for the disappearance of the cargoes destined for Batangas.