Corruption is a cancer: a cancer that eats away at a citizen’s faith in democracy, diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity; already-tight national budgets, crowding out important national investments. It wastes the talent of entire generations. It scares away investments and jobs.
— United State 46th president Joseph Robinette Biden
It appears there are two versions in the story behind the recent raid of a warehouse where millions of pesos worth of smuggled and fake cigarettes were seized in Santa Maria, Bulacan.
According to our source from the Bureau of Customs (BoC), the versions narrating the raid remains as a puzzle, triggering speculations as to what really transpired between the agents of the BoC and operatives of the Metro Manila Regional Highway Patrol Group (HPG) during the actual operation.
This is because it was hinted in initial reports that there are a number of employees of the Bureau who are involved in selling the smuggled tobacco products.
Actually, the warehouse raided by the HPG-NCR is just a stone’s throw away from the facility being used by the BoC as its condemnation site for confiscated contraband.
Because of the contradicting and doubtful data and information, it has beelcome the common view that the issue is aimed at besmirching the HPG-NCR in the eyes of the public.
“Kumpleto ang mga dokumentong magpapatunay na lehitimo ang kanilang operasyon,” our source cited as he noted that there are documents proving that the raid was a legitimate operation conducted by the HPG-NCR.
“Hintayin natin ang resulta ng isinasagawang imbestigasyon para matukoy ang totoong nangyayari,” he added.
It may be recalled this is not the first time that Customs employees have been embroiled in controversy or in illegal or irregular activities.
Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) field station chief Paul Oliver Pacunayen was relieved from his post while a thorough investigation was being made over allegations of his involvement in anomalous transactions in the Bureau.
Pacunayen was one of those mentioned in the letter sent to President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. from the agency’s concerned officials, employees and stakeholders who complained about the return of rampant smuggling in several ports.
Also mentioned involved in the irregularities was CIIS director Thomas Narcise.
It has been more that six months since Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno his commitment to rid the BoC of corruption but so far there has been no significant result from his promise.
Former BoC deputy commissioner for intelligence Romy Rosales was the one assigned to lead the investigation and anti-corruption initiative yet he had unfortunately resigned before his appointment so it appears Rosales and Pacunayen’s case has been buried to be forgotten.
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