BOC intelligence officer denies accepting ‘tara’

Bureau of Customs (BOC) Intelligence Officer Joel Pinawin on Thursday claimed he never received any 'tara' payment during his seven years of service in the agency.

Asked by Senator Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson if he ever received any 'tara' payment, Pinawin answered: "Hindi po."

According to Customs Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña, under the 'tara' system, Customs officials are paid some P31,000 to P71,000 for every shipment allowed entry to the country, was the main cause of corruption in the BOC.

The Senate blue ribbon committee resumed on Thursday its hearing on the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China that slipped past BOC in May. —KG, GMA News