BOC execs welcome anti-graft body

Officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) welcomed a reported plan by Malacañang to create a new body to monitor and stop corruption in the agency.

Lawyer Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang, who heads the Customs X-Ray Scanning Project that was earlier questioned for supposed overpricing by Sen. Jamby Madrigal, said they have long been waiting for an anti-graft body to specifically look into corruption at the BOC.

“The people in the government should be transparent in terms of dealing and transaction with importers or the public. It is good to hear about this plan because finally those who are corrupt in the Bureau of Customs and those who are in cahoots with the smugglers would be exposed,” Mangaoang told The STAR.

But Mangaoang said she hopes those who would be appointed to the new body would be fair: “I hope they would not use this as a venue to discredit or destroy the reputation of honest people in the bureau.”

“If they have a motive or agenda, this is not good for the government or our economy. They should not use this to their advantage and they should also balance the interest of the local industries as against the interest of the importers because both groups has constitutional rights,” she added.

Giovanni Imaysay, executive assistant of Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales, described the proposed anti-graft body at the BOC as “a win-win solution.”

“That’s very welcome. It will be a big help to the bureau because we will help each other also to fight technical smuggling. The advantage is this group, composed of civil society, will know the process in the Customs. Hindi na sila magdududa na may mga kalokohan sa Customs,” he said.

But just like Mangaoang, Imaysay suggested that safety nets should be included in the implementing rules and guidelines of the Malacanang-created group so that their function will not be abused.

Last week, President Arroyo reportedly revealed her plan to create a new group tasked to plug revenue leaks, stop corruption and the smuggling of oil and other essential commodities.

The new body would be tapped to monitor collection efforts, gather lifestyle and corruption information, and follow up major tax evasion or smuggling cases. It will coordinate with the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group, headed by Undersecretary Antonio Villar.

At the BOC, the new body would be called Portal, for Ports Transparency Alliance. A counterpart body would also be created at the Bureau of Internal Revenue and will be named Partners, or Partnership for a Transparent and Efficient Revenue Service for the BIR. – Edu Punay