Waterless BOC, I.D. policy blamed

CEBU, Philippines - Stricter security measures inside the Bureau of Customs-Port of Cebu is eyed as the cause why the said office has no water supply since Thursday last week.

Everyone who enters the BoC-Port of Cebu are required to present identification cards issued by Enforcement and Security Services district commander Camilo Cascolan, Jr. Other valid identification cards, company or government-issued, are reportedly not accepted.

“Giputlan mi og tubig sa Cebu Port Authority kay gipasirad-an man ni Cascolan ang gate nga nag-border sa CPA ug Customs, (CPA disconnected our water supply because Cascolan ordered the closure of the gate connecting CPA and BOC.)” said a customs official who requested anonymity.

BOC-Port of Cebu connects their water from CPA, who owns the Customs building.

The FREEMAN tried to contact CPA general manager Dennis Villamor for comment but he was not available as of press time.

The FREEMAN, however, was told by another source that CPA’s water connections was reportedly undergoing some repairs.

According to some customs officials, this security police has caused humiliation to some of the transacting public whose valid I.D.s were not accepted as customs police manning the gate only accept the I.D. issued by ESS.

“There was a client but was barred entry kay walay customs I.D. He felt he was humiliated kay dili baya siya pirme muari og Customs. Dili sad mudawat og laing valid I.D. ang guwardiya kay Custom’s I.D. gyud ilang gusto, (There was a client who was not allowed to enter because he did not have a Customs I.D. He does not frequent the office. The guards also refuse to honor any other valid I.D. because they want the Customs I.D.)” said Atty. Dante Maranan, BOC officer-in-charge of the Auction and Cargo Disposal Unit.

Maranan said that it is only at BOC-Cebu that valid I.D.s are turned down.

“Even in a military camp nga red alert, makasulod ra man gani basta mo-present lang ka og valid I.D. nimo. (Military camps which are even on red alert allow entry if you present a valid I.D.) ,” Maranan added.

He said perhaps Cascolan is not aware of the history where it was Customs who asked a favor from CPA during the time of former district collector Ricardo Belmonte, to open the gate for the convenience of some customs employees who will be inspecting container vans within the CPA premises.

“Naay ni-transact diri unya wala pasudla kay walay customs I.D. Wala sad gidawat ang iyang laing I.D. Unya kay nagdali man siya, nihatag na lang siya og P300 para makasulod. (Somebody had a transaction here but was not allowed to enter because he had no Customs I.D. His other I.D.s were also not honored but because he was in a hurry, he gave P300 just so he could enter),” narrated another customs official, who requested not to be named.

Arneth Von Manquiquis, assistant chief of the Customs Investigation and Intelligence Service, said that a client who only transact once at the bureau should not be required to get a customs I.D.

“Okay ra man na tingale nga muhatag lang sila (clients’) og valid I.D. aron dili na sila malangan. (Clients valid I.D.s seems acceptable enough so that they will not be delayed in their transactions),” she added.

In January this year, Cascolan implemented the Customs I.D. police which costs P150.00 each and should be renewed every month. — (FREEMAN)