The Bureau of Customs (BoC) has cited Clark Development Corporation’s ‘Task Force Aguila’ for intensifying operations against smuggling in the country.
In a statement, BoC Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero thanked the CDC- Task Force Aguila’s initiative after they apprehended a P50M worth of smuggled items composed of assorted smart phones, and laptops during the height of the COVID 19-pandemic here. The seizure of these items was ordered by the BoC – Clark.
The said items were later put to good use as the BoC donated these to the Department of Education (DepEd) in a formal turnover ceremony recently. A total of 5,038 devices composed of 4,840 smartphones and 198 units of laptops were received by DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, in a simple ceremony held at the BoC office in Manila. The donated gadgets will be distributed and utilized by students who are under distance learning, particularly those who are currently enrolled in online learning delivery modality. Also present during the turnover were CDC Vice President Mariza O. Mandocdoc, and Department of Finance (DOF) Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez who joined the event virtually.
The CDC-Task Force Aguila has been active in helping the government’s drive against illegal smuggling and tax evasion. The seizure of the P50M worth of gadgets is the task force’s 2nd biggest haul.
The first was in 2019 when it seized over P80M worth of similar goods in a huge technical smuggling attempt. These goods were also forfeited in favor of the government.
