Report corruption, smuggling activities at BOC and get rewarded – Faeldon

Customs Commissioner Nicanor E. Faeldon is calling on the public to actively participate in transforming the Bureau of Customs (BOC) by reporting any act of corruption or smuggling in the agency.

“I am inviting everybody to actively participate in our transformation campaign,” Faeldon said Monday.

The Customs commissioner said the bureau will grant rewards to informers or whistleblowers who will report any act of corruption and smuggling activities to the agency.

“If you have information about smuggling within and outside the bureau, let us know immediately. Section 1512 of the CMTA (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) gives monetary rewards to those who will help us succeed in this campaign,” said Faeldon.

Under Section 1512 of the CMTA, “a cash reward equivalent to 20 percent of the actual proceeds from the sale of smuggled goods or actual collection off additional revenues shall be given to the Customs and non-Customs informers or whistleblowers who are instrumental in the collection of additional revenues arising from the discovery of violations of this Act in accordance with the rules and regulations issued by the Secretary of Finance.”

According to the BOC, if the total value of the actual proceed is 110 million, the reward will be 12 million.

However, the bureau must first investigate the legitimacy of the report before giving a reward, Faeldon said.

“Ayaw natin ng mga kuro-kuro o sabi-sabi lamang (We do not want hearsays). We want facts and the bureau needs you to stand by these facts. Pagtulungan natin ang pagsasa-ayos sa bureau (Let’s be partners in transforming the bureau). The bureau is counting on you,” Faeldon stressed.

The BOCalso assured that the information given by the informant, including his identity, will be treated with “utmost confidentiality” so that no harm will be caused to individuals who are willing to cooperate with the bureau.

Meanwhile, Faeldon said that all provisions of the CMTA are expected to be implemented within the year.

Faeldon further noted that while trying to implement the most important provisions first, the bureau aims to complete all implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the CMTA before the year ends.