Aquino halts opening of balikbayan boxes

There is “no politics” behind President Aquino’s decision ordering the Bureau of Customs to halt the random inspection of balikbayan boxes, Malacañang said yesterday.

The President’s main consideration in overturning the BoC’s plan is the welfare of the overseas Filipino workers and their families in the country, according to Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.

Coloma tried to dispel allegations that Aquino changed his mind on the issue supposedly due to the feared backlash on the administration candidates in the 2016 elections.

“Sa kanyang pasya isinaalangalang ni Pangulong Aquino ang kahalagahan ng balikbayan box sapagkat ito ay bunga ng pagpupunyagi ng bawat OFW na patnubayan at itaguyod ang kabuhayan at magandang kinabukasan ng kanyang pamilya. Pinakinggan ang pagpapahayag ng saloobin ng mga boss sa hanay ng mga OFW,” Coloma said in a Palace press briefing.

“Walang pulitika,” Coloma added.

The President on Monday night ordered the BoC to stop the random or physical inspection of balikbayan boxes and instead implement a 100 percent X-ray and K-9 inspection of the cargoes. The bureau will only inspect the boxes in cases of derogatory findings.

Aquino’s decision was reached after a meeting with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina in Malacañang in the wake of public outcry against the rigid inspection of the OFW boxes.

Several lawmakers, OFWs and their families, and other concerned sectors have criticized the administration for bullying the modern-day heroes instead of focusing on the crackdown on big-time smugglers.

In explaining the screening of the balikbayan boxes via X-ray and canines, Coloma said it is the duty of the government to stop groups engaged in smuggling weapons, illegal drugs, and other expensive items to evade taxes.

“Kaya’t ipinag-utos ng Pangulo ang 100 percent X-ray and K-9 inspection ng mga container van at no cost to the sender or to the OFW,” he said.