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Corruption exists in Bureau of Customs – Lapeña

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MANILA, Philippines — Yes! there is corruption involving personnel of the Bureau of Customs, this was confirmed by no less than Commissioner Isidro Lapeña.

The admission came as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is conducting probe into the PHP6.4-billion shabu shipment from China  which slipped.

A custom broker told Newsline.ph “Tara, has been there for so many years, businessmen usually give it either to thank the smooth release of their goods or to send a message that they need to release the goods as soon as possible.”

Payoff, grease money or Tara, speaks of the same thing, money given to customs personnel without receipts.

When Senator Panfilo Lacson directly asked Lapeña if these allegations were true, the retired police general admitted “There is, your honor.”

The bribery starts when businessmen ask favor from customs personnel foe the facilitation of their goods, they call it “Tara” (Bribery), a system which has been there for decades.

Customs Deputy Commissioner Gerardo Gambala when asked the same question answered “Yes, that’s what I heard, sir.”

Lawyer Mandy Anderson, chief of staff at the Office of the Commissioner told the Senate the is such practice in the bureau when businessmen gave “grease money” to hasten the release of the goods.

Customs broker call it “tara”.

BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) operating unit team leader Joel Pinawin said that there was indeed corruption because the illegal shipment was able to slip through the bureau.

Pinawin, served the  bureau for at least seven years however denied receiving payoff from Customs broker and fixer Mark Taguba.-Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph

About Editha Z. Caduaya

Edith Z Caduaya studied Bachelor of Science in Development Communication at the University of Southern Mindanao.

The chairperson of Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) Inc.

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