The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed administrative charges against three customs employees of its Manila International Container Port (MICP) office after they were caught on closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras allegedly accepting bribes.
Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said in a statement that a preventive suspension was issued against these customs employees pending the investigation of their cases.
“I have given my orders to the concerned officials of the Investigation Division to expedite the probe and once proven guilty, criminal complaints will be filed against them before the Office of the Ombudsman,” Faeldon said.
BOC said the three customs employees, who were not named, were seen allegedly accepting money on several instances while processing entries at the port.
“After four months of monitoring, the CCTV footages will serve as a strong evidence against them and if proven true, they should be punished,” Management Information System and Technology deputy commissioner Gerardo Gambala said.
Nearly 400 CCTV cameras installed in various BOC offices are monitored 24/7 by personnel from the customs bureau’s Command Center.
“We can see how vital these cameras are as countermeasures to curb corruption in the bureau,” Gambala said.
MICP district collector Atty. Vincent Philip Maronilla, meanwhile, shared his frustration over the incident, saying “there is no place for any corrupt officials at the MICP.”
“We will make sure that the full strength of the law will be applied to these employees,” Maronilla said.
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
