Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is coordinating with the United States Embassy in the Philippines and the US Chamber of Commerce to address allegations of corruption in the agency, Malacañang said on Tuesday.“Nais nilang ipaliwanag at ipakita na mayroon pong sweeping reform agenda ang bagong pamunuan at niri-reinforce po dito ang transparency, accountability and professionalism,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters.“Matatandaan din po natin na nag-prohibit sila ng conflict of interest among the professionals na hindi puwedeng sumama sa negosyo o magkaroon ng financial interest sa mga Customs brokerage at ito ay within the fourth civil degree by affinity and by consanguinity,” she said. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/7/boc-submits-docs-of-discaya-s-luxury-vehicles-to-ici-2357">BOC submits docs of Discaya’s luxury vehicles to ICI </a> </div>The BOC has also achieved a 96.99% digitalization rate to fast-track processes and address overstaying cargoes, Castro said.Marcos Jr. has also appointed a new BOC commissioner in July, she said.“Ito pong lahat ay para tugunan ang direktiba ng Pangulo na patayan hangga’t maaari o maiwasan ang korupsiyon sa ating bansa,” she said.“With this report tingin natin at maaasahan natin ang magiging positibo naman sigurong tugon ng US State Department,” she said.The statement comes after the US 2025 State Department report identified the BOC as one of the most corrupt agencies in the Philippines, citing reports from American entities doing business here. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/27/boc-seizes-p605-m-worth-of-smuggled-cigarettes-in-bulacan-warehouse-1345">BOC seizes P605-M worth of smuggled cigarettes in Bulacan warehouse </a> </div>BOC officials have been asking businesses and their representatives to pay for unofficial fees, while there were also incidents of invasive searches of cargos and parcels, according to the report released in September.Corruption woes have jolted the Marcos Jr. administration in recent months, with another survey showing that majority of Filipinos are supposedly unsatisfied with government efforts to curb corruption and inflation.“Ang Pangulo po ay hindi naman po naaalarma sa numero,” Castro said. “Patuloy pa rin po ang pagtatrabaho ng Pangulo para po lalong malabanan ang korupsiyon dito sa ating bansa at dati na rin po niyang sinabi na rating should not be based only on one survey,” she said.“May mga pagkakataon po kasi naiiba ang resulta sa mga ibang survey,” she added.Malacañang also underscored that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was among the top officials who called out corrupt government officials during his State of the Nation Address this year. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/3/boc-to-look-into-yachts-planes-lavish-assets-of-other-flood-control-contractors-1455">BOC to look into yachts, planes, lavish assets of other flood control contractors</a></div>In his 4th SONA delivered before lawmakers, politicians and foreign dignitaries, Marcos Jr. told corrupt individuals to be ashamed of themselves after days of flooding showed that billions in taxpayers’ money went to waste because of substandard or missing flood control projects.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is coordinating with the United States Embassy in the Philippines and the US Chamber of Commerce to address allegations of corruption in the agency, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is coordinating with the United States Embassy in the Philippines and the US Chamber of Commerce to address allegations of corruption in the agency, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

BOC coordinating with US Embassy, American businesses to address corruption: Palace

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BOC coordinating with US Embassy, American businesses to address corruption: Palace

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 14, 2025 04:37 PM PHT

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Bureau of Customs

United States of America

American Chamber of Commerce

red tape

corruption

BOC

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