Customs deputy commissioner urged to name smuggling suspects

MANILA, Philippines – The House Committee on Ways and Means chair on Tuesday dared  the Deputy Customs Commissioner Jessie Dellosa to name persons in cahoots with corrupt Customs personnel.

“Dellosa is a former soldier who is battle-tested in his own right. Be man enough to name names and unmasked the people behind the rampant smuggling,” House panel chair Marikina Rep. Romero ”Miro” Quimbo told reporters during the weekly news forum, Ugnayan sa Batasan.

“If there are members of Congress who are in cahoots, name them. This is the only way he can help Customs Commissioner Bert Lina to clean the agency,” he added.

Quimbo challenged Dellosa amid the latter's reports of persistent smuggling at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) which resulted to billions of losses for the government.

The panel chair said Dellosa must show enough evidence as proof of his allegations and be able to justify his claims.

“Dellosa does not have enough evidence to show proof of his allegations and has no balls to prove it, better shut up because he is not helping the government and only creating intrigues,” Quimbo said.

Quimbo also warned Dellosa of the possibility that he might be cited for contempt if he snubs the committee and refuse to show upon their next invitation. The committee issue a subpoena to force his presence.

The panel chair recalled that Dellosa has been invited several times to attend the hearing but he never showed up.

Meanwhile, AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones mentioned that the biggest loss due to smuggling is in the oil industry.

Briones asked the authorities, especially the Department of Energy to exert more effort in addressing the smuggling problem that affects the economy.

He asked the Department of Energy to double their efforts in addressing the smuggling problem that hurts the economy.

“It is impossible that there are no Customs personnel involved in these wrongdoings. It’s high time to unmask the people behind,” Briones said.