ZAMBOANGA CITY—City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has ordered local policemen and other law enforcement agencies to arrest people involved in smuggling even as she lamented the alleged non-cooperation of the local Bureau of Customs in efforts to stop the illegal practice.
Salazar directed City Police Director Luisito Magnaye and other concerned agencies to intercept smuggled goods, “but our concerted efforts become futile because the local Bureau of Customs appears not to be doing well its mandated duties and responsibilities.”
She cited past instances when the police and barangay officials intercepted thousands of sacks of rice and sugar brought to the coastal city on ferries. When the matter was reported to the BOC, the agency “either said it lacked personnel or it did not operate after office hours.”
The city chief executive told the media that when local authorities intercepted over 1,500 sacks of sugar two years ago, the items were taken to the BOC office “but the number of sacks later dropped to 300 with some 1,200 sacks missing.”
Salazar added: “The local government and concerned barangays perform their job as regards smuggling, which has become a local major issue, but the national agency that is supposed to be in the forefront of this campaign is shirking its duty so the problem is not solved.”
Nevertheless, she said, the police and concerned barangay officials will continue to intensify their campaign against smuggling in Zamboanga and go on apprehending smugglers and supporting concerned authorities in their anti-smuggling efforts, and urged the Customs bureau to do its job.