BOC reminds public: Seized items are auctioned off in bulk, not piecemeal

The Bureau of Customs on Wednesday reminded the public that the items seized by the agency are sold in bulk, and not piecemeal, through auction.

"Please be reminded that all of the seized items up for sale by the Bureau are coursed through our auction department and will be auctioned off not on a piecemeal basis but by shipments or bulk. You cannot just go to the BOC and buy seized items," BOC Enforcement and Security Services Director Willie Tolentino said in a statement.

He said notice of auctions are published in a newspaper or on its website, with the date and details of the auction.

The agency issued the reminder after a 58-year-old woman whose modus is to "sell" bogus smuggled items allegedly from the BOC and to run away after receiving payment was arrested by the Customs Police on March 12.

“We hope that this would serve as a warning to the public not to entertain people calling them or texting them, trying to sell smuggled stuff allegedly coming from Customs," Tolentino said.

The Customs police arrested Mary Grace "May" Santos on March 12 inside the BOC compound.

Santos was positively identified by her supposed victims who paid her P9,250 for "20 pieces of seized cellphones taken from the BOC."

"Upon arrival at the BOC main gate, Santos took the money and told the victims that she will go inside to get the cellphones and asked them to wait for her outside the gate. However, after waiting for almost an hour, the suspect did not return, prompting the victims to text Santos, but she did not reply," according to the statement.

The complainants, Alelie and Aileen Aguilar, said Santos was a customer of their store in Quiapo.

"Customs Police, however, were alerted when Santos passed through the gate because her appearance resembles a woman who is also under Customs Police watch for committing estafa using the name of the Bureau," the agency said.

Santos was led to the security office for questioning after she failed to show a visitor's pass ID at the gate.

"That is when they were approached by the victims who told the Customs Police that Santos was the one who scammed them," BOC said.

She is facing swindling and estafa-related charges filed by the BOC.

Tolentino said the public should inform the BOC if they receive these kinds of calls "so we may be able to entrap these individuals." — Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/BM, GMA News