(Eagle News) — President Aquino said on Monday that he is set to meet with key officials to discuss the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) plan to conduct random inspections of balikbayan boxes that has drawn complaints from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The President told reporters in Cebu City that he had already called Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Customs Commissioner Bert Lina to a meeting as soon as he gets back to Manila. He said he would review the “whole proposal.”
He said the aim of the campaign is to fight the entry of illegal drugs, guns and other items being smuggled into the country.
“Ang pangunahing layunin nito ay makatulong doon sa kampanya natin laban sa mga ilegal na droga. Tapos marami na rin tayong balita na nagpupuslit ng bala, mga baril. Meron pa raw nag-dismantle ng motorsiklo na ‘yung tinatawag nilang big bikes. Hinati-hati sa ilang kahon para makaiwas rin sa dapat na bayaran na multa,” President Aquino explained.
He assured the public that there will be safeguards to prevent abuse.
“Ang paliwanag nila sa akin X-ray raw ang gagamitin sa pagsiyasat nitong mga balikbayan box… at pagkatapos ang mga kahinahinalang makikita sa X-ray, iyon lang ang bubuksan ng pisikal. Tapos idinagdag na magkakaroon tayo ng mga independent na observers sa Customs para bantayan ang proseso para matanggal ang agam-agam nang pagnanakaw,” he said.
President Aquino asked the people to help the BOC’s campaign against smuggling.
“Tulungan natin ang Customs na gawin ang kanilang trabaho,” he said.
The BOC has insisted that the plan to conduct random inspections of balikbayan boxes is an anti-smuggling measure and that it is not aimed at OFWs but at smugglers who exploit the use of such boxes to ship contraband into the country. (with a PND report)