BOC to importers, brokers: Talk on graft or lose accreditation

MANILA, Philippines – Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon yesterday threatened to remove the accreditation of brokers and importers who will not reveal the names of Customs employees and officials involved in irregularities.

He said he will give the estimated 11,000 brokers and importers one month, or until the end of the year, to come to him and tell what they know or else he would cancel their accreditation.

“I do not believe that you do not know those who are transacting at the BOC for the illicit procedures,” he said.

“I am already questioning your honesty in doing your business at the BOC.

“In fact, I am now contemplating on removing all of your accreditation and you will start from zero because this means that you are benefitting from technical smuggling and all forms of illicit trade.”

Faeldon said if the brokers and importers are really inconvenienced by the illegalities taking place inside the Bureau of Customs, it should not take them a year to come forward and report to him.

Erring brokers and importers are the problem, he added.

Faeldon has been commissioner for five months, but no one has approached him.

These brokers and importers are hiding the identities of the corrupt BOC personnel for their own personal interest, he said.