Take that, Alberto Lina!
President Benigno Aquino III yesterday signed a long-overdue law that raises the tax exemption of balikbayan boxes from a meager PHP10,000 to PHP150,000.
In a statement released on the website of the Bureau of Customs — one of three government agencies tagged corrupt by incoming President Rodrigo Duterte — commissioner Lina said he was “”pleased that in my short time in the BOC, and with the dedication and hard work of the Customs workforce, I was able to shepherd this overdue bill into law.”
We’re scratching our heads here.
Less than a year ago, Lina was adamantly defending the right of the BOC to open the boxes and tax even secondhand items.
Watch his 2015 interview here with Karen Davila.
In that interview, Lina clarifies that balikbayan boxes strictly refer to packages that are brought in by returning residents.
Boxes sent by Filipinos who are still residing overseas, he said, will still be taxed.
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