Anti-smuggling drive gets boost from USAID

The Bureau of Customs (BoC) sees a more vigorous campaign against smuggling and corruption next year with over P350 million in additional funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and from the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC).

Customs Legal Services chief Reynaldo Umali said the additional funds would greatly boost the agency’s Run After the Smugglers (RATS) program.

Umali told The STAR that RATS will get $3.135 million from USAID and P105 million from PAGC.

USAID, Umali said, is allocating the amount as part of a recent agreement with the US government.

"This fund is specifically meant for capability enhancement of RATS. We will use this for training of prosecutors and purchase of more equipment," he said.

Umali, the RATS executive director, added that other government agencies would also receive funds from USAID including the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Office of the Ombudsman.

He said Sen. Franklin Drilon earlier vowed to push for P90 million more for RATS in the appropriations for 2007.

"For this additional fund in the BoC budget for 2007, we are thinking of creating a Legal Prosecution office that would consolidate functions of prosecution, intellectual property and intelligence," Umali pointed out.

Umali believes the surge in financial support for RATS is an indication of the program’s credibility.

"I don’t think they would invest this much if they don’t believe in the capability of RATS to do its job to combat smuggling and corruption in the bureau," Umali maintained.

"We always point out that RATS will shape the future of the bureau. We have a strong feeling that we can slowly address smuggling and corruption," he said. "This is our way of changing the public’s bad perception of the Customs."

Under the RATS program, a total of 26 criminal cases against 120 suspected smugglers have been filed with the Department of Justice.

Umali said that by yearend, 10 of these cases shall have been filed with courts.

Customs officials say an effective campaign against smuggling and corruption is essential to the bureau‘s revenue enhancement program. — Edu Punay