WITH VIDEOS | Customs Chief On Lifestyle Checks: We’ll Do Our Best

Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno underscored on Wednesday, Aug. 27, the challenges they may face in the conduct of lifestyle checks, both among Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel and other officials who may be involved in smuggling activities.

“The problems inside the BOC itself are really tremendous and this has been [the problem] through the years and the decades,” Nepomuceno said in an interview with “Storycon” on One News.

“To untangle them and then look inwardly into our own personnel will be challenging, but we will do our best to follow the directive,” he added.

Nepomuceno, who assumed his post in July, highlighted the importance of coordination between different agencies to gather the necessary evidence against those involved in illegal activities.

“Even as it is, we’re confronted by powerful people behind smuggling activities,” he said. “We need resources to do our job… We’re up against groups or people who have more resources and power than us.”

Malacañang on Wednesday confirmed that President Marcos wants to conduct lifestyle checks on government employees and officials in light of corruption allegations involving flood control projects.

While it is possible to verify the luxury items or vehicles that officials might own, Nepomuceno stressed that accessing residences would be more difficult compared to searching warehouses or commercial establishments.

“We have to convince the court that we have enough reason for the judge to trust us in issuing the search warrant that we would be needing to enter the premises,” he pointed out.

Full automation

To deter smuggling and other illegal activities, the BOC is eyeing the full automation of the entire importation process within the agency.

According to Nepomuceno, he has already identified the priority programs he intends to implement under his watch.

“There are many in the BOC who really want to join the crusade to change or improve the BOC. But we cannot solely depend on that,” he said, stressing the need for solutions to change the system.

“The first is full automation (of the) entire loop of processes inside the bureau, from filing of the importation entries to valuation… to payment itself until the release (of the shipment). That has to be fully automated,” he added.

Nepomuceno also bared plans to strengthen the policy on pre-shipment surveys to ensure that the contents of all shipments are properly valued.

He is also pushing for the procurement of new X-ray machines to improve monitoring of shipments that pass through customs, noting that their present equipment are “old and outmoded.”

To further minimize corruption, he committed to further improve transparency, such as having back-up monitoring of inspections of shipments.

“My team should be able to withstand the pressure or resistance in putting in place the right technology-based solutions,” he said.

Nepomuceno recognized the significant challenges in dealing with the problem of smuggling, especially given the country’s porous borders.

“This is not just the problem of one (agency). We have to work together… there are many moving parts,” he added.