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[av_heading heading=’ Use Customs Act vs erring bureau officials, says Angara ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – Delinquent Bureau of Customs officials and employees must be held to account by fully enforcing the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), stressed Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara.
In a House hearing on the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu from China, a broker disclosed the names of Customs officials who allegedly received grease money in exchange for the release of a cargo.
If proven guilty, the erring officials must be held accountable for corruption, Angara said.
“We increased the outdated amount of fines and penalties under the CMTA to make the law a stronger deterrent to smuggling,” said the senator, who sponsored the law, also known as Republic Act (RA) 10863.
Under Section 1431 (d), any Customs officer or employee who conspires or colludes to defraud the bureau revenue will be penalized with imprisonment of not less than six years but not more than 12 years, and a fine of not less than P500,000 but not more than P1 million.
Those found guilty shall be perpetually disqualified from holding public office, exercising the right to vote and participating in any public election, the law stated.
“Aside from improving trade facilitation and border protection, one of the main objectives of the CMTA is to ingrain transparency and accountability into the bureau,” Angara said.
Senate investigations have shown that the Customs continues to be one of the most corrupt and underperforming government agencies in the country, he said.
RA 10863 mandates assessment officers to transfer ports every three years to avoid any collusion and complicity. It also seeks a study to evaluate salaries to develop a competitive compensation and remuneration system.
“Kapag tinaasan natin ang sweldo ng mga empleyado ng [Customs], tiyak na mas makaiiwas sila sa anumang uri ng korapsyon,” said Angara. “But before we make any increase in their pay scale, there should be improved qualification and performance benchmarks in place to professionalize its ranks.”
Moreover, the CMTA aims to fully automate Customs procedures to ensure faster and more transparent inspection and valuation.
With computerization, “less human contact would be required,” Angara said. “We want to minimize the discretion of officials to eliminate the alleged rampant corrupt practices in the bureau.”/PN
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