Customs Commissioner admits 'tara' still exists in BOC

Regular payoffs, more popularly known as 'tara', still exists in the Bureau of Customs, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said.

"Meron pa rin kasi hanggang ngayon, 'di pa namin ma-maximize. May targets kami, eh,” Guerrero said in a report by Maki Pulido aired over GMA News TV's Balitanghali on Wednesday.

Likewise, Guerrero could not say if Happy Friday, or the day when payoffs happen in the Bureau, does not happen anymore.

“Hindi ko masasabi kung may Happy Friday pa dito dahil wala na ako nakikita,” Guerrero added.

Guerrero then lamented that even if they are cracking the whip among corrupt BOC officials and employees, there are those who are beyond their disciplinary jurisdiction such as importers and brokers.

The Aduana Business Club, however, cried foul over Guerrero's action of putting the blame on non-Customs people.

“Simple lang naman daw 'yan. Alam ng intelligence ng Customs ang mga problemadong kargamento dahil nga 'yun ang magtatangkang magbigay ng padulas. Ang battlecry nila e eradicate lagay-lagay. So nakakalungkot din na mag-aapat na taon 'yun pa rin ang problema,” Mary Zapata of Aduana Business Club said.

“Don't they have means to know the root cause?” Zapata added.

The BOC however said one indication their anti-corruption is working is the amount of customs fees collected.

Guerrero, however, maintained that the BOC is committed to cleansing its own ranks as evidenced by their move to ask the Office of the Ombudsman to probe 119 BOC employees due to allegations of corruption.

Of this number, seven were already ordered dismissed from office by the Office of the Ombudsman.

These seven were:

1. Ramon Hernandez, Deputy Collector for Operations of the Manila International Container Port (MICP)
2. Lomonto Macabando, Customs Operations Officer 5;
3. Vanzandt Remonde, Customs Operations Officer 3;
4. Jaybee Raul Cometa, Special Police Assistant Chief, Bureau of Customs MICP;
5. Renly Tiñana, Customs Security Guard 2;
6. Oscar Farin, Special Agent 1, BOC-Port of Zamboanga; and
7. Vicente Gamboa, Customs Operations Officer 3.

The cases involving the seven either stemmed from allegedly facilitating an illegal transhipment from one port to another and/or alleged smuggling of rice, jewelry and sugar. —Llanesca T. Panti/KG GMA News