BOC offers reward to tipsters

MANILA, Philippines -  The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is banking on its rewards system to boost its anti-smuggling efforts.

BOC Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said the 20 percent reward offered to tipsters was instrumental in the discovery of the alleged smuggling of P300-million worth of rice recently.

Smuggling charges have been filed against the incorporators of Plum Blossom Import-Export Food Corp., namely David Manuel Ubarde, Enrico de Castro, Rex Butuan and Edwin Benito; as well as against Manolo Antonio Medel, owner of Full Story Source Marketing.

“We really want to reach out to those with information to help the bureau,” Alvarez said.

He said he has been getting a lot of text messages from people claiming to have knowledge of irregularities.

“They can come to my office but they have to produce their evidence to back up their allegations, otherwise it would just be a fishing expedition,” he added.

He said the person who squealed on the alleged P300-million rice smuggling had detailed the modus operandi of the businessmen involved.

“That was why we were able to file the case in just one week. The informant was able to provide us with documents detailing the transaction of the two firms for the past two and a half years,” he said.

But Alvarez stressed the tipster, who is not a Customs employee, would not yet get his reward.

“The person would only get the reward money once we collect the estimated P300 million of unpaid duties and taxes and that might take some time,” Alvarez pointed out.