"I support the transfer of administration of the Bureau of Customs to the military."
"I support the transfer of administration of the Bureau of Customs to the military."
Of all the agencies in government, the Bureau of Customs is perceived to be one of the most corrupt in our country. The BOC is regarded as ground zero for smuggling, bribery and entry points for drugs and other illegal goods.
Since the start of the current administration, many smuggled goods have been intercepted and seized by the Bureau. In 2016, P2 million worth of ecstasy tablets and shabu were seized and another P1.2 million worth of ecstasy tablets were found in a plastic bag both at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. In 2017, the bureau recovered P6.4-billion worth of shabu in a warehouse in Valenzuela which were concealed in a metal cylinder and were believed to have come from China.
In the same year, another P234 million worth of illegal drugs were intercepted and confiscated by the bureau. In June this year, 17.96 kilos of shabu and 1.03 kilos of marijuana with an estimated value of P133.6 million were seized at NAIA and Port of Clark. Last August, P4.3 billion worth of shabu was intercepted at the Manila port. Meanwhile, in September, 800 grams of shabu amounting to P5.44 million was also seized at NAIA. Last October, the most recent and yet the biggest controversy faced by the Bureau is the missing P11 billion worth of shabu that was allegedly contained in the four magnetic lifters confiscated in Cavite.
These are the conditions precedent that may have triggered the President to issue an order for the military to control activities within the BOC. He recently appointed former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief General Leonardo Guerrero as its new commissioner and then directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines to take over the agency to eradicate corruption and large-scale smuggling especially of illegal drugs.
Customs officials have admitted before the presence of corruption in the Bureau. Given this mess, it takes great political will to clean this agency. The President has showed us this, with his strong mindset and bold move to appoint military men in his Cabinet. The AFP abides by its morals of honor, service and patriotism. They are honed to uphold discipline, order, and integrity. These principles are of paramount importance to ensure efficiency and purity of a government entity, especially with the likes of Bureau of Customs. As the agency most tainted with corruption, the Bureau of Customs needs leaders who practice and manifest these values. The most important thing is to restore order, discipline, and integrity in the agency. A military leadership exactly fits this need. While there have been some reservations that this is not the “perfect” solution, what is?
The President has been intolerant of bureaucracy. Bureaucracy makes it conducive for corruption to occur. While this may take a while to eliminate, the takeover of the military is hoped to make a difference and a huge improvement in the processes in the bureau. I support the transfer of administration of the Bureau of Customs to the military. As the President himself said, the military can do things expeditiously. At this point, the country needs immediate solutions to our never-ending problems such as corruption, smuggling, and illegal drugs. The seizure of illegal drugs at the point of entry is crucial and beneficial to the war against illegal drugs. At the same time, cleansing the agency of its evils will result in efficient management and strict implementation of the law.
Military participation is intended to be temporary. While the administration is deciding on realistic, appropriate and lasting solutions to the BOC, perhaps my House Resolution No. 1918, where I proposed the possible engagement of the SGS or the Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS) of Switzerland, which was contracted by the government in the 1990s to take charge of the inspection and valuation of imported goods, could be tabled for discussion.