‘Tara system in BOC continues’

MANILA, Philippines — Payments of “tara” or grease money at the Bureau of Customs for shipments that enter the country’s ports will likely resume due to the lack of an anti-corruption system in the BOC, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

Lacson said corrupt BOC officials and employees seemed to have “lain low” following his expose about the alleged smuggling of P1 billion worth of shabu in May.

He said he has not received any reports of corruption or bribery in the bureau since then.

“There are no secrets there when you talk of bribery,” Lacson said over dzBB, adding that the so-called “3 o’clock habit” every Friday where alleged tara proceeds are divided among BOC officials down to utility personnel and security guards apparently continues.

The senator, however, said he believes that Customs Commissioner Leonardo Guerrero has remained an “upright man” since his appointment in October last year.

Lacson said grease money ranges from P5,000 to P50,000 per shipping container. Around 7,000 containers pass through the Manila International Container Port and Port of Manila every week, he said.