In quotes: 10 senators react to balikbayan box inspection

MANILA, Philippines – Some senators reacted to the Bureau of Customs' (BOC) recent directive to randomly inspect balikbayan boxes as a meant to control smuggling in the country.

The BOC’s order drew flak especially from overseas workers, some of whom claimed they were being singled out by the agency. President Benigno Aquino III on Monday then ordered the agency to stop conducting random physical inspection of balikbayan boxes.

Senators also weighed in on the matter, issuing different statements in reaction to the bureau's decision to physically inspect the boxes.

Sen. Nancy Binay

Ang policy na ito ay isang patunay na manhid at palpak ang administrasyong ito, bukod sa anti-OFW.

Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

I don't understand this oppression of our OFWs.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago

It is one thing to inspect balikbayan boxes, another to desecrate them. The Bureau of Customs seems aware that balikbayan boxes, when opened by their personnel, are sometimes pillaged. What have officials done to rid their ranks of thieves?

Sen. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara

OFWs bringing their belongings and pasalubong to their loved ones here in the country is part of the Filipino culture. Huwag naman sana natin parusahan ang ating mga OFW sa pagpataw ng mataas na buwis. Ilang buwan o taon nilang pinaghirapan at pinag-ipunan ang kanilang mga ipinadadala sa kani-kanilang pamilya na excited na naghihintay dito sa bansa. Nakalulungkot na pagdating ng mga balikbayan box na ito ay makikitang bawas o kaya'y may mga sira na.

Sen. Raph Recto

Ibalato na natin sa mga OFWs ang balikbayan boxes kasi ang pagpapadala n'yan sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay ay isang paraan para mabawasan nila ng konti ang kanilang kalungkutan.

Sen. Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV

Sa totoo lang, we have to check kung ano ang mga patakaran diyan. Kasi ang isyu naman ng BOC ay pagdating sa drugs at mga baril. I also don’t know kung gaano kadalas nangyayari iyon. Gaano ba kadalas nakakapasok ang drugs at baril sa balikbayan box.

Sen. Grace Poe Llamanzares

While it is important to clamp down on smuggling, we must be careful not to penalize our honest OFWs in the process of going after some unscrupulous people. This new policy of imposing the stricter examination of boxes containing the hard-earned pasalubong of our OFWs for their loved ones back home may only breed more opportunities for corruption in the BOC that inevitably results to higher freight payment by our OFWs for the goods they send.

Sen. Cynthia Villar

We should not let this practice by the unscrupulous few affect the privilege enjoyed by ?#?OFWs. Sending balikbayan boxes has been the tradition of Filipinos who want to stay connected to their loved ones. It is also a manifestation of the Filipino value of sharing their blessings.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano

Kapag malaking smuggler, nagtatakip ng mata. Pero ‘pag ordinaryong tao were just enforcing the law.

Sen. JV Ejercito

Ang bawat balikbayan box ay simbolo ng pagmamahal ng OFW para sa kanilang pamilya. Lahat ng pagod, pawis, sakripisyo at lungkot sa matagal na pagkawalay sa pamilya ay kasama sa bawa’t balikbayan box. Kung kaya't dito nadarama ng pamilya ang pagmamahal ng kanilang bayani. Wag naman pati ito ay patulan pa ng BOC.