MANILA – Over 120 cases were filed against erring importers, brokers, and employees, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Wednesday.
Citing the latest data, the BOC said a total of 127 cases were filed by the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) against erring importers and customs brokers, from calendar year (CY) 2020 to Jan. 8, 2021.
The cases were filed for violations of Republic Act 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and other pertinent laws.
Of the number, 75 criminal cases were filed against various importers were filed before the DOJ, while 52 administrative cases were filed against customs brokers before the Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC).
For the same period, a total of 370 cases on appeal were resolved by BOC- Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG), through its Legal Service.
These cases consist of abandonment proceedings, seizure and forfeiture cases, determination of probable cause proceedings, and protests.
It added that a total of 48 disciplinary administrative cases were filed against erring BOC employees from 2019 to 2020, 18 of which were transmitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.For CY 2020, 11 cases were resolved, 17 are for resolution, and 11 cases are under formal investigation. (PNA)