House panel to push for abolition of Customs Command Center

The House of Representatives' ways and means panel will push for the abolition of the Bureau of Customs Command Center, as it failed to tighten the operations against smuggling, a lawmaker said Sunday.

In an interview with radio dzBB, Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua said the scrapping of the Command Center is one of the recommendations his committee will make as they investigate the P6.4-billion worth of shabu shipment smuggled into the country without the knowledge of the BOC.

"Ang isang rekomendasyon na sa tingin ko ay isusulong ng committee ay 'yung pagbuwag ng Command Center," Cua said.

The Command Center, which is under the direct supervision of the Customs Commissioner, has the authority to issue alert orders that allow the inspection of questionable shipments.

"At dahil diyan, of course it means they have greater control. At dapat kung greater control, dapat hindi nagiging green lane itong bagong kompanya na may dalang kontrabando," Cua said. 

But the center's purpose was not realized. "So, ibig sabihin doon, hindi rin naging successful yung tightening ng system through the Command Center." 

At the House inquiry on August 2 into the drug smuggling, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez questioned the establishment of the Command Center.

Alvarez pointed out that the center was established without an order from the Department of Finance. —LBG, GMA News