Customs probe on POM smuggling finished

MANILA, Philippines — Officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), including a former district collector at the Port of Manila (POM), are in hot water for alleged technical smuggling, which resulted in revenue losses for the government.

An investigation committee formed by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero has reportedly completed its task and recommended the filing of criminal and administrative cases against the officials.

Guerrero created the committee amid reports that several shipments were allegedly released by the POM through the so-called “ship spares” scheme to avoid payment of taxes and duties.

BOC insiders said probers found irregularities tantamount to technical smuggling by unscrupulous officials in cahoots with owners of a private brokerage firm and an importing company.

The inquiry conducted from March to April this year was prompted by the unusual increase in the number of shipments allegedly released manually by POM officials without payment of taxes since the goods were supposedly not intended for domestic consumption.