Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said charges of large-scale estafa through cybercrime will be filed against the 11 companies on March 27, or by March 31 at the latest, even if it falls during Holy Week.
Large-scale estafa
“We will hold them accountable to the law,” said Nepomuceno.
He told a news conference in Cebu on March 24 that the crime falls under large-scale estafa because the total amount paid by OFWs to have the 54,000 boxes delivered to their families reached P330 million.
It was committed through cybercrime, as the companies used social media platforms to entice OFWs to use their supposed services.
Nepomuceno, along with Finance Secretary Frederick Go, was in Cebu to lead the distribution of balikbayan boxes to 30 OFWs and their families, marking the final stage of delivering the remaining boxes that had been abandoned at the Port of Cebu.
One of the recipients was Reynaldo Tibule, 65, a resident of Mandaue City.
The box contained his personal belongings as well as some pasalubong (homecoming gifts) for his family, which he sent in June last year after he was retrenched from his job in Saudi Arabia, where he had worked for 32 years.
Abandoned
At least 54,000 boxes were left at various ports after consolidators abroad and deconsolidators in the Philippines failed to pay proper shipping charges, arrastre fees, customs duties and taxes, among others.
Nepomuceno said the unpaid Customs duties and taxes would have reached at least P20 million, which were waived to pave the way for the delivery of the boxes to the recipients.
Go said it cost the government P20 million to have these delivered directly to the homes of OFWs which was taken from the budget of the Office of the President.
As of March 23, all balikbayan boxes left by cargo handlers at the ports of Manila and Davao, totaling 25,818, had been delivered to the families of OFWs.
Nepomuceno said their focus would be on the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and the Port of Cebu, where 15,084 and 498 boxes, respectively, were scheduled for release.
Records from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) showed that 13,842 boxes had been released in Cebu, 8,475 at the MICP, 2,699 in Subic, 732 in Davao, and 70 at the Port of Manila.
Accountability
Go said it was the government’s duty to ensure that every hard-earned balikbayan box reached its rightful owner and that those responsible for any misconduct were held accountable.
He, however, advised the public to remain vigilant and to transact only with legitimate box forwarding companies to prevent similar problems in the future.
“Don’t be scammed by these forwarding companies that charge so cheaply. If it is too cheap, it is already a warning sign that it is a scam,” he added.
Nepomuceno said the best deterrent against such scams was to file charges against those responsible, as this would discourage others from doing the same.
“We need to charge these firms that duped our OFWs to stop this kind of practice and to instill fear in others who might be planning to do the same,” he said in Filipino.
The government would also find ways to hold erring consolidators based abroad liable, he added.
Upon Go’s orders, Nepomuceno said they had been coordinating with embassies in countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to seek assistance in going after these companies.
Blacklisted
In the meantime, Nepomuceno said the 11 firms could no longer transact with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) after their licenses were suspended. Once cases are filed, they will be blacklisted.
Go said they were also looking at imposing a P2-million bond to forwarders when applying for accreditation to weed out the fly-by-nights.
The bond not only enhances the qualifications of the forwarding company but also serves as a standby fund that the government can tap in case the forwarder fails to pay the necessary fees, including forwarding costs. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
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