By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has challenged the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to improve data sharing and cooperate with other government agencies to pursue smuggling cases effectively.
In a news release Tuesday, Remulla said the lack of vital documents and information from the BOC cripple the government’s crackdown against smugglers.
“Nagkaroon kami ng meeting ng Customs at saka ng DOJ (Department of Justice) para nga tumigil na ang kalokohang ito sa smuggling (We met with the Customs and the DOJ to come up with a solution to stop smuggling)” he said as quoted in a radio interview on Sunday.
“Ang problema nga kasi yung sa Customs, ayaw nila kumpletuhin ang documentation (The problem with Customs is that they refuse to complete the documentation),” he added.
Remulla hurled the challenge to the BOC after the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently signed a data sharing agreement to strengthen government accountability.
“Ifa-file namin ang kaso o kaya iimbestigahan namin sabay kapag hinihingi namin ang dokumento ayaw dumating ang dokumento. Walang data sharing. At least ang DBM pumayag na sa data sharing. Ngayon, Customs na icha-challenge namin, (We either file a case or conduct an investigation, but when we request documents, they aren’t provided. There is no data sharing. At least the DBM has agreed to data sharing; now, we will challenge the Bureau of Customs),” Remulla said.
Remulla said amid the government’s intensified campaign against smuggling, some BOC agents were allegedly involved in the sale of smuggled frozen chicken meat meant for destruction.
Lawmakers earlier urged BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno to intensify efforts to clean up the agency, particularly its intelligence arm, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service. (PNA)
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla
