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[av_heading heading=’ Did bureau personnel violate Customs Act? ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – Antonio Trillanes IV asked the Senate to investigate the alleged corrupt practices at the Bureau of Customs.
Specifically, he wanted the committee on ways and means to look into possible violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act by bureau officials and personnel, the senator said in Senate Resolution No. 474.
Juan Edgardo Angara was leading the ways and means panel as chairman.
The Philippines lost P19.34 trillion to illicit financial flows between 1960 and 2011, Trillanes said, citing a 2014 Global Financial Integrity report.
The Customs bureau was the top Philippine government institution in terms of revenue loss, the same report stated.
Recently, P6.4 billion worth of shabu shipment passed through the Customs’ express “green lane” undetected.
A Senate investigation led by the blue ribbon committee exposed the alleged payment of “tara” by smugglers to bribe Customs personnel.
Moreover, Sen. Panfilo Lacson identified several Customs officials who allegedly accepted payoffs from bureau players, Trillanes said.
“It is therefore imperative upon the Senate to study and formulate remedial legislation to strengthen existing laws and/or correct implementation loopholes … to finally carry out reforms in the [Customs],” said Trillanes./PN
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