Lina asks NAIA district collector to explain P6,000 tax on boxer’s title belt

Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina has ordered the customs authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to explain the almost P6,000 tax allegedly slapped on the championship belt brought home by Filipina boxer and mixed martial arts fighter Jujeath Nagaowa.

Lina ordered Bureau of Customs-NAIA district collector Edgar Macabeo to submit a report on the incident.

The Filipina won the international light flyweight title of the Women’s IBA in China and the belt was recently shipped to her.

“We would look into it. We would coordinate with the concerned people from the NAIA and get the facts,” Lina said.

Lina said the Bureau of Customs would also check if there was coordination with the Department of Finance for tax exemption.

“There is a policy that the rewards and trophies may be exempted from paying taxes if they are able to secure a tax exemption from the Department of Finance," Lina said.

"If they failed to secure a tax exempt from the DOF, then they would have to pay the duties and taxes,” he added.

According to posts on Facebook, Nagaowa was reportedly ordered to pay P5,809 in duties to claim the belt after winning the light flyweight title of the Women's International Boxing Association.

Lina also invited Nagaowa to his office or to the office of Ninoy Aquino International Airport district collector Edgar Macabeo to tell her story.

Nagaowa, 27, has alleged that BOC-NAIA personnel told her that her belt had a dutiable value of P20,147.77, of which the customs’ duty was P3,027.13 while the value added tax was P2,782.

She also reportedly paid $30 for postage. -NB, GMA News