De Lima tells Customs: Explore other methods in balikbayan box inspection

MANILA, Philippines – With the public outrage over the random inspection of balikbayan boxes by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday said the agency should explore alternative methods in inspecting suspicious packages.

“Other methods can be explored, such as merely subjecting random or suspect packages to x-ray, instead of opening each and every box,” De Lima said in a text message sent to reporters.

“There are practical ways to approach this matter and achieving any objectives the BOC wants without subjecting our countrymen to further inconvenience,” she added.

The Justice secretary noted that the BOC and the Department of Finance (DOF) have the power to inspect and apprehend smuggled or illegal goods upon their entry in the country since BOC is a guard of the country’s trading gates. However, she said they should be cautious in their announced plans to subject balikbayan boxes to more extensive inspection than officials previously did.

“We should leave that for the DOF and the BOC to deliberate and decide upon. But insofar as the law is concerned, they are authorized under the customs code to conduct such inspections. It’s just a matter of not making it inconvenient to both the sender and the recipient of the balikbayan box,” De Lima said.

De Lima said the BOC should remain careful to avoid antagonizing the feelings of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families since the OFWs have already been used to the traditional practice of minimal scrutiny in imported packages unless these are in commercial volume.

De Lima said that the BOC must specify a change in circumstance that now demands a change in policy, otherwise the same may appear arbitrary in light of usual minimal inspection of the OFW packages before.

The BOC drew flak after it implemented a new directive to open suspected balikbayan boxes in a bid to curb smuggling in the country as well as determine the tax of inbound goods.