FORMER CUSTOMS COMMISSIONER VILLANUEVA SUGGESTED REFORMS
TO REDUCE GRAFT AND CORRUPTION AND TECHNICAL SMUGGLING AT THE BOC
By. Ver M. Garcia & Teddy Cho
Former BOC Commissioner Titus Villanueva seated at the right with Blogger Journalist Susan Amoroso (seated at the center) and other media partners.
The Philippines a DEVELOPING country plague with corruption and
Technical smuggling. Time and again the BOC (BUREAU of CUSTOMS) has been known
to be corrupt. There have been verified reports about its loses in revenues of
P300 millions each month due to smuggling. Just recently. newspapers reported
alleged illegal entry of imported sugar, rice, cars, agricultural products,
plastic, petroleum, and smuggling of manufactured goods, such as iron bars and
adulterated cement; the entry of 100 container vans of toxic waste; and the
lost of 2,000 container vans of imported manufactured products without payments
of duties and taxes.
Corruption in the form of bribe and facilitation money are
elicited from delays in the release of cargoes, contributing to port
congestion, does victimizing all kinds of importers, big and small which
includes the honest and dishonest business entities. ‘Human interventions must
be reduce to the barest minimum to reduce corruption’ avers Atty, Villanueva
BLOGGING COVERAGE.. Ms. Susan Amoroso (standing) emcee at the Media Forum held recently at the Jadevine Hotel in United Nation Avenue, Manila. Topics of the discussion is How to Rid the Bureau of Custom of Graft and Corruption.. Resource Speaker is Atty. Titus Villanueva (Right) former Custom Commissioner.
STATUS OF THE DRIVE AGAINST
SMUGGLING AND CORRUPTION
In a private blog and media briefing, lawyer Titus B. Villanueva
in an excerpt from a book entitled ‘FROM THE RANKS’ a biography of Titus himself was written and
introduced by journalist Chando P.
Morallos.
TITUS POLICY: EXCERPTS FROM HIS BIO-BOOK: FROM THE RANKS: TITUS
B. VILLANUEVA's BIOGRAPHY BOOK: THAT DURING THE TIME OF THE FORMER BUREAU OF
CUSTOMS COMMISSIONER. TITUS B. VILLANUEVA WITH
HIS POLICY: ‘ALWAYS FAVOR THE IMPORTER IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SUPREME
COURT RULING THAT CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
SHOULD BE RESOLVED IN FAVOR OF THE TAXPAYER WHO HAS THE BURDEN OF PAYING THE
TAXES.’
According to Titus the BOC has not been lacking in reform
programs or measures to curb smuggling and eradicate corruption. In fact, the
following are some of the reforms adopted and implemented.
1.) Simplification of Customs Documents.
2.) Determination of the Time of processing of Customs
Documents.
3.) Limitation of the Number of days of processing
Customs documents.
4.) Reduction of the Number of signatures required in the
processing.
5.) Conduct of Moral regeneration seminars for Custom
employees.
6.) Use of Selectivity System by Identification of
legitimate and less legitimate importers.
7.) Hiring of Pre-shipment inspectors (PSI).
8.) Computerization of Customs Operation.
It should be noted that two of the aforementioned reform
programs: BOC's Selectivity System and Pre-shipment Inspection (PSI) were found
out to be very effective but were removed from the operations due to political
reasons. As reported funds from corruption and smuggling were used for campaign
funds in both local and national elections.
THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM
The restoration of the Selectivity System and the CISS (Comprehensive
Import Supervision System) and removing the reasons why they did not last long.
In case of big and legitimate-accredited importers, their shipments covering
about 80% of the total imports should no longer pass through Customs but would
be delivered immediately from pier direct to the consignee's warehouse but
subject only to random check (Alert) to rule out abuse of the privilege. Bribe/
facilitation money would be avoided with the removal of Customs processing
prior to the release of the shipment.
Without human intervention, there would
be no place for bribery/ facilitation money.
In the case of hiring of Import Supervisor, make the coverage
comprehensive which was the reason why it was removed. The solution is to make
it cover only the group of new and less reliable-accredited importers
comprising only about 20% of total imports, hence, no longer costly to the
Government.
In order for the solution to succeed and make it lasting, the
system of reward and punishment should be adopted. This means that ACCREDITATION
of big / honest, legitimate importers would be revoked if the importers commit
any violation of the Customs Tariff and Custom code and other related laws and
regulations. In the same manner, new and less reliable importers may join the
group of big/ honest/legitimate importers should they maintain good record of
performance in dealing with the BOC.
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS : FOR THE SUCCESS
OF THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
1.) Creation of a committee of 3 to 5 honest and reliable
members. The committee would select/accredit those who would compose the group
of big/legitimate importers and the group of new and less reliable ones. The
committee member must be appointed by no less than the President of the
Philippines upon the recommendation of the Customs Commissioner.
2.) The Herein proposed solution to the problem should be
contained in an Executive order to be issued by the President.
Former Customs Commissioner is the only Filipino Customs head to
chair the ASEAN and APEC meetings on customs procedures. His advocacy to rid customs
of graft and corruption has been proven effective during his term as customs
deputy and as commissioner. He rose from the ranks serving the Bureau for 41
years and the only non-political appointee. He is a CPA-lawyer and a licensed
customs broker. He is no other than Lawyer Titus B. Villanueva.
(VerGarciaBlogs)
