Tres Mosquitoes at BOC
CUSTOMS Commissioner Ruffy Biazon and his deputy Danny Lim deserve a resounding applause for their Herculean efforts in cleaning up piers nationwide of smugglers within a very short period.
Thanks to the dynamic duo’s accomplishments, the bureau achieved its tax collection target this first quarter, even surpassing the BOC’S collection for the same period last year.
Pnoy made the right move in appointing Biazon and Lim to the Bureau of Customs. Now there’s order in the South Harbor and at the international container port.
However, it seems that BOC’S top two bigwigs should redirect their efforts and run after customs personnel still on the take.
A BOC employee sent me a disconcerting message that three members of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service ( CIIS), have been raking in oodles of money from importers and brokers at the South Harbor and the Manila International Container Port.
Here’s how these three stooges work. First, they look for highly dutiable cargoes. Once they have spotted a prospective cargo, they would order the assessment section not to process the shipment until its consignee or the broker talks to them.
The enterprising trio reportedly write their names and cellphone numbers on the Entry Forms so that the importers would call them up. Once the call is made, the Tres Mosquitoes then make their move.
According to my source, Tres Mosquitoes offer huge tax discounts if payments are made to them directly by the importer or broker. That is, if the cargo’s documentations are in order.
However, if the cargo’s documents are questionable, the evil triumvirate would threaten to seize the shipment unless its consignee agrees to hand over millions of pesos to iron out the wrinkle silently. These Tres Mosquitoes really know how to suck their victims dry.
To make things worst, the trio drops the name of Deputy Commissioner Lim every time they “operate.” Their working line is that they are just following orders from their boss, which is total baloney!!!
I have known Gen. Lim since he was still head of the AFP’S Special Operations Command. I worked with him at the height of the Abu Sayaf kidnapping in Basilan where schoolchildren were held hostage.
The man is straight as an arrow and down to earth. I recall him saying one time, “Kahit oras-oras pa ako ipa- lifestyle check, Erwin, walang problema dahil wala akong tinatago.” (They can conduct a lifestyle check on me every hour, Erwin. It wouldn’t be a problem because I am not hiding anything.)
Biazon and Lim should relieve these three nincompoops immediately or at the least, put them on floating status. Better yet, they should be sent to a Mindanao port so they could stop pestering businessmen at the south harbor, or bugging BOC assessment section employees.
Oh yes, the Tres Mosquitoes can still have important roles in Pnoy’s Daang Matuwid. Believe it or not, the Palace could use them as models in its anti-corruption drive.
How? Authorities could lay down these three rotten eggs on Pnoy’s path of righteousness, then leave them there to fry. Or they could be left for their balls to be crushed by speeding trucks. He he he.