600 soldiers to man BOC

CEBU, Philippines — At least 600 military personnel will be deployed to assist the Bureau of Customs in the aspect of providing intelligence, counterintelligence, and logistical support.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Carlito Galvez Jr. said the deployment, which will happen in the next six months, was ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte in a bid to stop smuggling at the BOC.

The corruption-ridden agency got the ire of the president who wanted a full military takeover after an estimated P11 billion worth of shabu slipped past customs officials at the Manila International Container Port in July.

Galvez who was in Cebu yesterday to grace the turnover ceremony between outgoing Central Command chief Lt. General Paul Atal and incoming commander Major General Noel Clement clarified that there will be no military takeover.

He said the military personnel will be there to assist the BOC and to ensure that smuggling will be stopped.  Galvez said a memorandum of agreement was already signed by him and Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero as well as Philippine Coast Guard Commander Admiral Elson Hermogino.

 Under the agreement, the military participation is limited only to providing intelligence support, technical and other counter-checking measures. The Constitution does not allow military personnel to run a civilian agency.

As agreed in the MOA, the AFP will retain disciplinary administrative and court-martial jurisdiction for offenses committed by military personnel in the performance of their duties based on authorization deputation issued by the BOC.

On the part of the PCG, Hermogino said they have prepared 80 of their personnel who have background in customs administration to be deployed to the BOC.

They would also be donating five units of 11-meter fast boats to the BOC. These vessels, to be donated by a non-government organization based in Europe, might be built in Sri Lanka. The vessels are expected to arrive in the second quarter of next year.

The PCG would also assist in the enforcement of laws on fisheries, immigration, tariff and customs, forestry, firearms and explosives, human trafficking, dangerous drugs and controlled chemicals and transnational crimes.

According to Galvez, those who will be deployed at the BOC will come from the different unified commands of the AFP, including CentCom. Clement said providing assistance to BOC will be among his programs.

“Right now wala pa namang specifics, but of course, that will be part of the support that we will provide to customs, if ever they need our services, in addressing the problems,” he said. — FPL (FREEMAN)