BOC chief tells Tulfo: We’re not after online sellers

MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz clarified yesterday that the BOC is not going after online sellers.

Ruiz, who is on quarantine after he tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, made the statement after Sen. Raffy Tulfo slammed the BOC for running after online sellers instead of major oil smugglers.

Ruiz pointed out that the BOC has been properly collecting duties from oil imports through the implementation of the fuel marking program, which has been “proven effective in plugging tax leakages.”

The BOC, in coordination with the Department of Finance and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), launched the program on Aug. 2, 2019.

Data showed that the bureau collected P457.98 billion from 2019 to 2022 under its fuel marking program.

During the Senate hearing on Tuesday, Tulfo grilled the BOC and BIR for supposedly going after online sellers instead of oil smugglers.

“The BOC should run after the big fish, not the small fry,” Tulfo said.

He also criticized the BOC’s inaction over the proliferation of “ukay ukay” or used clothes in the market.