Ruffy denies Lufthansa relief from Germany taxed

MANILA, Philipines - Bureau of Customs commissioner Rozzano Rufino "Ruffy" Biazon answered allegations circulating in social media that the relief flown in from Germany was charged with taxes at the port.

In a text message sent to the Presidential Communications and Strategic Planning Office on Wednesday afternoon, Biazon said that he immediately investigated whether the package for victims of powerful Yolanda typhoon sent through Lufthansa airlines was indeed blocked by port officials.

"There is information going around social media that Customs allegedly taxed German donations via Lufthansa," he said.

"This is not true, the shipment of German donations which arrived at Lufthansa hangar (at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila) on November 11, 2013 at 4:34 a.m. from the Republic of Germany carrying 23,071 kilos of relief goods were released within the day, exempted from duties and tax," Biazon added.

Aid and assistance from various countries pouring into central Visayas has been met with anxiety from the public that the goods and money are not sufficiently trickling into distressed areas.

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