Drawer-less tables eyed for BOC men

MANILA, Philippines -  Customs employees may soon find themselves working at drawer-less tables and with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras watching over them.

The newly installed commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is eyeing the use of drawer-less tables and the installation of the CCTVs to combat corruption, particularly the so-called “open drawer” racket among erring customs personnel in various ports of the country.

BOC chief Lito Alvarez told reporters during the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel in Quezon City said that removal of drawers and the installation of CCTV cameras would be a deterrent to the corruption of customs personnel.

“I will be requesting funds for the purchase of drawer-less tables,” Alvarez said.

The “open drawer” racket is a modus operandi wherein employees keep the drawers of their tables open for clients to drop grease money to facilitate the transaction of documents.

Alvarez, who assumed his post early this month, said the use of drawer-less tables is among the measures he wants to put in place as part of the cleansing of the graft-ridden agency.

He said other measures he immediately implemented include the “No ID, no sticker policy” to rid their offices of unknown personnel, specifically middlemen of smugglers.

Alvarez also limited the power to issue alert orders to district collectors. Clearances are now also limited to key officers of the bureau.

The alert orders, which were issued before by at least eight officers, have been a source of illegitimate income for some customs officials, Alvarez said.

The new customs chief also said they are focusing on the issuance of clearance for special commodities and other items which are commonly smuggled.

Alvarez said the BOC has set a P160-billion collection target for the next six months.

“It’s a very challenging job, I have no pressure from anybody,” he said.

Alvarez said he is getting a lot of reports from rank-and-file employees and concerned citizens about alleged irregularities in the agency.

He vowed to file smuggling cases against big-time smugglers every two weeks and the crackdown will continue until the BOC attains graft-free status.

Alvarez also plans to make a strong representation with lawmakers for the passage of a law that will exempt BOC employees from the Salary Standardization Law, still as part of his anti-corruption drive.

Alvarez said the BOC would also work closely with the National Bureau of Investigation, Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies in profiling big-time smugglers in the country.

He has also submitted a recommendation to the finance secretary to abolish the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group, which he said duplicates the functions of the BOC.