A May 18, 2012 press release from the Department of Finance, Bureau of Customs: Representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have picked a new chairman to supervise its forthcoming projects and activities. The Philippines was chosen with the election of Customs Deputy Commissioner Ma. Caridad P. Manarang, as the new ASEAN Single Window (ASW) Steering Committee chair. Continue reading →

A May 17, 2012 press release from the Department of Finance, Bureau of Customs: The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-RATS Program in its all-out war on smuggling, has filed a criminal complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against a trader and his broker for the unlawful importation of fireworks worth P40 million. Continue reading →

A May 10, 2012 press release from the Department of Finance, Bureau of Customs: Herminio Castillejos Lindo, a Customs Special Agent, is facing possible preventive suspension due to serious violations pertaining to his sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Networth (SALN). Continue reading →

A May 10, 2012 press release from the Department of Finance, Bureau of Finance: Focusing on its all-out war against smuggling, the (Bureau of Customs) has seized seven forty-footer container vans ferrying illegally imported onions worth P9.8M. Continue reading →

A May 3, 2012 press release from the Department of Finance, Bureau of Customs: Five officials of a Manila-based trading company and a customs broker were formally charged today at the Department of Justice (DOJ) by officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) led by Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon for violations on certain provisions of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP), Section 166 of Republic Act 8293 (Intellectual Property Code), Section 4, Republic Act 8203 (Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs) and Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code. Continue reading →

An April 25, 2012 press release from the Department of Finance, Bureau of Internal Revenue: The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) today filed a criminal complaint with the Department of Justice against Temps and Staffers, Inc. (TSI), together with its president, Arturo C. Guerrero III and treasurer, Vivian A. Guerrero, for two counts of willful attempt to evade or defeat tax and eight counts of willful failure to supply correct and accurate information in its Income Tax and Value Added Tax Returns for taxable year 2009 pursuant to Sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended (Tax Code). Continue reading →

An April 20, 2012 press release from the Department of Finance, Bureau of Customs: For providing fabricated, misleading, and incomprehensive details in his sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Networth (SALN), the Bureau of Custom’s (BOC) Supervising Customs Operations Officer Atty. Manuel C. Relorcasa is facing criminal and administrative indictments in violation of Republic Act 3019, as amended; Republic Act 6713; Article 171 (4) and Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code; serious dishonesty and grave misconduct under the applicable rules and regulations of Civil Service. Continue reading →

An April 3, 2012 press release from the Department of Finance, Bureau of Customs: Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon warns the public of fraudulent notices about packages to be delivered to the addressee in exchange for a certain amount of money. These are sent through mail or the internet disguising as official notices from the Bureau of Customs. Continue reading →

A March 22, 2012 press release from the Department of Finance, Bureau of Customs: In China, they could already been executed for their infractions of its laws. But for the five African nationals who tried to smuggle in 25 kilos of methampethamine hydrochloride or “shabu” worth P185 million at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), they could be lucky for the country’s not having the maximum penalty of death. On the other hand, they could still find themselves locked up for the rest of their lives once convicted of the case filed against them by the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Continue reading →

A March 20, 2012 press release from the Department of Finance, Bureau of Customs: Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon preferred to spend his natal day, presenting to media the results of the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) intensified monitoring of cargoes by his Intelligence Division (BOC-ID) operatives led by ID Assistant Chief and Head Special Operations Eric Albano, when it seized illegally imported used Porsche Boxster S worth P4.5 million, used clothing worth P3.3 million, and P1.5 million worth of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products. Continue reading →