THE Bureau of Customs (BOC), led by Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, issued a statement claiming it is “doubling down on its efforts to fight corruption and improve operational integrity.”
“Through continuous reforms and stringent enforcement, the agency is committed in upholding accountability and integrity in its operations.
“These initiatives are in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s anti-corruption and nation-building program, which strives to establish a government built on trust and good governance,” the BOC said, in a statement attributed to the customs chief.
Accordingly, the agency said 120 employees were investigated for alleged corruption between 2023 and 20244 that resulted to the preventive suspension of 14 employees while 6 others were also penalized with suspension.
Their names, however, were not divulged.
“These initiatives reflect the BOC’s zero-tolerance policy against corrupt practices,” the agency added.
To further enhance accountability, the BOC has strengthened its collaboration with the ‘Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council’ (CICAC), composed of 59 industry partners and trade organizations, an initiative that was lauded by Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto in a statement summarizing the agency’s accomplishments last year (Pinoy Exposé, January 21, 2025).
In addition, the BOC, in partnership with the World Customs Organization (WCO), conducted a ‘Customs Integrity Perception Survey’ and ‘Corruption Risk Assessment’ to identify process vulnerabilities and enhance transparency.
“The survey revealed significant progress in integrity violations, performance management, and appraisal systems among customs officers, while private stakeholders noted improvements in the feedback and transparency system, BOC-private sector relations, and adherence to the code of (ethical) conduct,” the BOC claimed.
It added it is now addressing the ‘identified corruption risk areas’ identified by the WCO.
To improve efficiency, the BOC also announced the implementation of four more digitization and modernization projects, the ‘National Customs Intelligence System’ (NCIS), ‘Customs Auction Monitoring System’ (CAMS), ‘Automated Export Declaration System’ (AEDS) and the ‘Over Staying Cargo Tracking System’ (OSTracker).
The NCIS is designed to bolster intelligence gather to combat smuggling while CAMS is designed to promote fairness and transparency in the disposal of seized goods.
On the other hand, the AEDS was introduced to streamline export processes while the OSTracker to improve the monitoring and management of overstaying cargo.
The BOC said stakeholders can also continue to use the ‘Customer Care Portal System’ (CCPS) that allows them to file declarations and applications online, reducing face-to-face interactions and opportunities for corruption.
“These advancements underscore the BOC’s commitment to a modernized and trustworthy customs operations,” the agency said.
On law enforcement and anti-smuggling, the BOC said that between 2023 and 2024, it filed 135 criminal cases before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against individuals involved in illegal activities.
The BOC secured 25 criminal convictions since 2023 against erring individuals involved in the ‘unlawful importation’ (smuggling) of various goods.
In addition, the BOC revoked the accreditations of 143 importers and 42 customs brokers involved in fraudulent activities, protecting the integrity of the customs process.
No list of those prosecuted and blacklisted erring customs brokers has been released however.