We know there are good people working at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), but there are also so many bad apples.
Citing the revelations of a confidential source from the BOC, Jerry E. Esplanada wrote in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that some corrupt Bureau of Customs employees have pocketed grease money through the “Cinco huli, lusot veinte” practice.
That means that, as the report explained, “for every 25 shipments of imported ukay-ukay, or used clothing, five are seized by the agency while the rest are promptly released to consignees upon payment of tara, or grease money, to corrupt customs personnel.”
The Inquirer’s BOC source said “millions of pesos in government revenue have been lost to this illegal practice.”
The report explained: “The importation of second-hand clothes is banned under Republic Act. No. 6453, or the ‘Act to safeguard the health of the Filipino people and maintain the dignity of the nation through the prohibition of the importation of used clothing and rags’ and under the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines.” This is why smugglers declare ukay-ukay items as “general merchandise.”
Aside from the 5-20 scheme, the report added that “smugglers have also benefited from the so-called ‘swing’ scheme practised by some BOC and ports officials and employees, who simply look the other way as ukay-ukay and other smuggled goods are transferred from ships or carriers directly to waiting trucks at the piers.” Of course, the corrupt officials will look the other way only if they get “the usual grease money.”
Photo from MorgueFile
