BOC seeks funding for condemnation facilities amid resale of smuggled goods

MANILA — Senators questioned the Bureau of Customs (BOC) over allegations of improper condemnation of confiscated goods, following reports that smuggled products meant for disposal were instead being resold, during the Department of Finance budget hearing on Tuesday.

Senator Joel Villanueva highlighted the recent NBI raid in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, where confiscated chicken seized by the BOC was allegedly sold online instead of being disposed of.

“From your own warehouse o kung saan man tinatagong storage ito, nailabas pa at muntik na pong maibenta… Siyempre nag-worry po tayo… Can you imagine kung ang nabentahan ay mga kamaganak mo?” Villanueva said.

Senator Kiko Pangilinan also cited a similar incident in Imus, Cavite, where smuggled meat was allegedly resold as fish food.

“Yung unfit for human consumption na karne na dapat nang i-condemn, binenta sa mga fish pond operator para gawing pakain sa tilapia at pagkakinain natin yung tilapia?” Pangilinan said, raising health concerns.  

BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno acknowledged the systemic problem, saying these incidents occur mainly because the agency does not have enough funding for its own rendering facilities.

“Ang dinatnan po nating sistema among so many other problems, wala hong budget allotted for Bureau of Customs to be used for rendering… we will seek the help of Congress and the Senate to support us with at least the immediate additional (funds) for us to be able to finance our own  rendering,” Nepomuceno further explained, noting that the agency currently relies on private condemnators.

Finance Secretary Frederick Go added that the BOC is requesting an additional P10 billion for its 2027 budget, portion of which will be allocated to construct condemnation facilities.

“BOC has a wish list of about P10 billion but number eight in the BOC list (of priorities) is the construction of condemnation facilities,” Go added.

Both Pangilinan and Villanueva expressed support for allocating additional funds to enable the agency to construct its own condemnation facilities.

“You can count on our support,” Pangilinan said.

While waiting for its own condemnation facility, the BOC said it has taken steps to address the incidents, including relieving some customs officers in charge and ordering the private condemnators involved to appear and explain.

“Once we are able to prove that indeed there are infractions, not only by the personnel of BOC but including yung may-ari ng condemnation facility, we will charge them for possible smuggling violation,” Nepomuceno added.