BOC welcomes PACC probe on corruption issues

FILE: Customs Building, Manila (Photo By PhotoPhilia, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Friday welcomed the ongoing investigation of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) amid the corruption issues hounding the agency.

BOC spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla, said they are working closely with the PACC and already submitted documents for evaluation.

“This cooperation with PACC is part of our continuous campaign against corruption which is one of the priorities that the Commissioner has been emphasizing since his assumption as customs chief,” Maronilla said in a statement.

Subpoenas were served against the Port of Manila (POM) and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) for documents related to alleged smuggling and unauthorized release of shipments.

The bureau reported that since November 2018, show-cause orders were issued against 119 of its employees for non-compliance with existing Customs rules and regulations.

Also, 23 administrative and 25 criminal complaints were filed against errant personnel under the administration of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

Several personnel had already been dismissed from the service this year, including a POM Customs guard which stemmed from a complaint received through text hotline 8484.

The hotline was established in August 2019 to help the Bureau get rid of corrupt practices from among its ranks.

A “No Contact Policy” is being implemented in the Accounts Management Office (AMO) through the Customer Care Portal System (CCPS). The CCPS which was introduced on June 17, 2019, is a web-based application designed to combat red tape and promote transparency and efficiency in the delivery of customs services.

Through this system, importers and customs brokers may apply online for accreditation with BOC without face-to-face transactions with customs personnel.

At present, an estimated 17,500 importers and 2,200 customs brokers are actively transacting with the BOC.

Under the leadership of Guerrero, the BOC remains committed to putting policy reforms to stop the problem of corruption upon the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte.