New Customs chief Leonardo Guerrero hits ‘tara’

MANILA, Philippines — Just a week since becoming commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), retired General Rey Leonardo Guerrero claimed several people have been using his name to collect “tara” or grease money. 

Guerrero said if he had benefited from the illicit deals, he would have already earned around P100 million. 

An irate Guerrero appeared before Customs employees during the flag-raising ceremony last Monday and ordered them not to entertain people dropping his name.

Guerrero urged the employees to live a simple and humble life.

“You could not bring your wealth with you when you die. Will your children be happy that the food you are feeding them came from illegal means?” Guerrero told the BOC employees.

Guerrero said he was angry because during his short stay in the bureau, he has already received four letters requesting favors.

The tara system is an old corruption scheme at the BOC where consignees or brokers would reportedly offer bribe money to allow the entry of contraband goods.

“I don’t care if it means I will lose my job. I will still do my job,” he told the gathering of employees who replied in unison, “Yes, sir! Maliwanag (loud and clear), sir!”

Customs deputy commissioner Jeffrey Dy assured the Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. (CCBI) that the bureau remains committed to rid the agency of corruption. 

“A corrupt Customs will not deliver the revenue that is probably due to the state, will not be effective in the fight against smuggling and trafficking and will obstruct the growth of legitimate international trade,” Dy said.  

To achieve this, Dy said he would be pushing for the full implementation of 1-Assessment – a pioneering web based system in the BOC that removes official discretion, eliminates the suki (favored customer) system and enforces accountability of brokers by tracking and making interactions auditable – while providing ease of doing business with the BOC.  

“Since 1-Assessment was piloted in the ports of Batangas, Subic, Clark, Surigao and Limay last Nov. 5, I am happy to say there has been zero backlog, despite the arrival of big volume of shipments. In stakeholders consultations, we have received good feedback – happy that they don’t have to go to the port because brokers can now monitor their entries digitally,” Dy said.

CCBI president Ferdinand Nague expressed support for the BOC to automate the process of assessment.

“First for the lodgment of entry all the way that will serve the interest of our clients, our interest against corruption and to further facilitate trade and in compliance with the ease of doing business of paperless infraction and no face to face contact,” Nague said.