Senate sets ‘balikbayan’ box probe; rallyists still want Lina out

Although the physical inspection of the “balikbayan” boxes have already come to a screeching halt, Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina remains up against public reprisal with rallyists storming the Bureau of Customs (BOC) office in Manila yesterday, continuously calling for his resignation, and six resolutions in Congress to investigate his controversial policy by next week.

Angry protesters slammed the gates of the BOC with empty balikbayan boxes carrying messages such as “Stop stealing from OFW boxes” and “Respect our OFWs.”

Sonny Melencio, chairperson of the Partido ng Lakas ng Masa, said they are calling for Lina’s resignation because they believe it is the only way to cleanse the bureau.

“He (Lina) did not fully divest from his businesses. He is doing that for the companies he owns. At the end, he is the one to monopolize freight forwarding,” Melencio said.

Security guards closed the gates and barred entry to the rallyists, who then threw the balikbayan boxes over the Customs gates.

Lina has been getting brickbats from his supposed plan to subject balikbayan boxes from OFWs to physical inspection until it was stopped by President Aquino after it drew flak from various sectors.

Senate calendars probe At the Senate, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara who chairs the Ways and Means Committee announced they will take up six resolutions and the bill calling for an investigation into the BOC’s controversial policy on balikbayan boxes next week.

Among those who filed separate resolutions calling for an investigation into the Customs policy to conduct random opening and tax balikbayan boxes are Senators Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Alan Peter Cayetano, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Paolo “Bam” Aquino, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and Ma. Lourdes “Nancy” Binay.

The panel will also take up Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto’s Senate Bill No. 2913 or the proposed “Balikbayan Box Law” which seeks to exempt from duties and tax balikbayan boxes containing personal and household effects of OFWs.

“Since Monday is a holiday, we’re looking at (holding the hearings on) Tuesday or Thursday,” said Angara of the probe as part of the hearings on the proposed Customs Modernization and Tariffs Act (CMTA).

Sugar smuggling

Meanwhile, Manual Lamata, president of the Sugar Alliance of the Philippines, also asked Lina to resign because of rampant sugar smuggling in the country under his watch.

“He has to step down. If he can’t stop it, he should be the one to be removed and replaced by the President,” he said at the sideline of the public viewing of the seized sugar from Thailand at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

SAP, a conglomerate of sugar planters and millers in the Philippines, sent President Aquino a letter, informing him that Lina is “no good” for the sugar industry and continuously serve the BOC.

“He (Lina) promised and he keeps on promising that there is no smuggling, but it is still there. He better step down,” Lamata said.