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Aside from contemplating the imposition of additional taxes on balikbayan boxes, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is also poised to implement stricter rules in the inspection of the said boxes.
READ: Bureau of Customs mulls higher taxes for balikbayan boxes
That is, the BOC wants more “spot checks” or random checks done to ensure that no contraband is inside balikbayan boxes. That, of course, involves opening the boxes. Naturally, many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) oppose this. In fact, they have launched an online petition to stop the BOC from opening the balikbayan boxes or packages they are sending to the country.
“BOC Chief Bert Lina said OFWs should not be worried if their agency is opening the boxes being brought to the country if they have nothing to hide. He reiterated that the random inspection is only part of the process to reinforce the drive to stop smuggling,” reports Rosette Adel on Philstar.com.
In a dzMM interview, Lina was quoted as saying, “I have my duty to protect this country… Kung dumami ang droga dito, dumami ang mga baril, sisihin mo ako, ‘di ba? ‘Yun ang aking gagawin, I have to implement the law (If more guns and drugs are smuggled into the country, wouldn’t I be blamed? So, that’s what I have to do, I have to implement the law).”
The report noted: “Through spot check operations, BOC earlier discovered that traders use balikbayan boxes to ship smuggled goods into the country which were identified as ‘undervalued items’ and ‘undeclared contents.'”
Moreover, in a telephone interview with News5, Lina said, “Yung pagbubukas ng balikbayan boxes ay naaayon sa utos ng batas ng Bureau of Customs na ang pagpasok ng goods sa ating bansa ay kailangang inspeksyunin.. Hindi naman kailangang magbabayad ng buwis (The opening of balikbayan boxes is mandated by the law governing the Bureau of Customs, that goods entering the country must be inspected. It doesn’t necessarily mean taxes will be imposed outright).”
Lina said added that “there are enough security safeguards against theft of the items shipped by the OFWs.” He explained that “boxes will be opened in front of four people: for enforcement by the customs police; the intelligence unit at Customs; office of the collector, and the office of the Customs commissioner.”
The Palace is aware of this heated issue. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a Radyo ng Bayan interview: “We have received a lot of open letter and messages through Facebook, e-mails. We’re collecting these and we’ll make sure these will be given to President Noynoy Aquino. We will make sure also that their complaints will be forwarded to Customer commissioner Bert Lina.”
Photo: RetiringPhilippines.org
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