The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has created an automated document tracking system to speed up the disposition of criminal and administrative cases the agency files.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña on June 26 signed Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 09-2018 to operationalize and implement BOC’s legal case management system (LCMS) and “ensure expeditious disposition of criminal and administrative cases” it initiates.
CMO 09-2018 covers criminal cases filed through BOC’s Bureau’s Action Team Against Smuggling (BATAS) and administrative cases involving erring customs employees.
BATAS, which is under BOC’s Legal Service, was created in 2017 under CMO 09-2017 to replace the Run Against Smugglers program. BATAS has three units under it and is tasked to handle all seizure, forfeiture, and administrative cases; cases involving customs brokers, importers, freight forwarders, and consolidators, including their agents and representatives; cases involving BOC officials and employees; and civil cases.
CMO 09-2018 also provides the list of customs officials with access to the LCMS. In addition, it outlines the step-by-step workflow for criminal and administrative cases, including the prescribed timelines for finishing each step.
