BOC allocates P20 M for CCTV project upgrade

MANILA, Philippines - There will soon be more “eyes” monitoring illegal transactions at the Bureau of Customs with the allocation of P20 million for the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at ports and BOC offices nationwide.

BOC Commissioner Alberto Lina yesterday said that he intends to continue the program of his predecessor, John Phillip Sevilla, to install the additional CCTVs. 

Lina said that beefing up security and monitoring at the BOC offices would be done nationwide.

“We will just first concentrate on nearby ports and the big ports where there is a large volume of imports,” he said.

The new monitors would be set up at the BOC main office in Port Area in Manila, the Manila International Container Port, Port of Manila (POM), Port of Batangas, Port of Cebu, Port of Davao and Port of Cagayan de Oro.

He would also require the “off docks” such as private container yard/ container freight station to install CCTVs in their warehouses that are used by the BOC to store imported goods.

They should also put a monitoring screen at the BOC to enable the government agency to ensure that nothing would be stolen. 

Lina said they would pursue the CCTV program even if there had been reports that Rommel Francisco, president of the BOC Employees Association (BOCEA)-POM, is against it.

Lina said only a court order could stop him from proceeding with the installation of the CCTVs.

He noted that in his previous meetings with the BOCEA, the members were aware of the plan to install CCTVs and did not raise any objection.

The issue concerning Francisco stemmed from a news story triggered by the statement of Sen. Francis Escudero during the vice presidential debates wherein he mentioned that one of the measures that could be done to minimize corruption is to remove pockets from BOC personnel’s uniforms, remove drawers from the tables and install CCTV cameras.

In the interview, Francisco reportedly said he is against the installation of CCTVs.

“They should try raising our salaries and giving us the right benefits. Do they think we will still keep doing those things?” Francisco said in Filipino.

BOC Deputy Commissioner for Revenue Collection and Monitoring Group Arthur Lachica said that the case of Francisco would go through proper procedures.

“We are endorsing the case to our Intelligence Group (IG) that will conduct the investigation, then if warranted a case might be filed against Rommel,” said Lachica.

Francisco might face an administrative case of grave misconduct but that “really depends on the findings of the IG on the basis alone on the statement wherein he said that ‘if they would increase our salary, would we still do it’, this could have several interpretations which might not necessarily mean that they did it (corruption, accept bribe). Even if he said that statement, the evidence that we are looking for is did they really do it. It will depend on the findings of the investigation,” Lachica added.