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The Bureau of Customs building is seen in this photo taken on August 25, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Izzy Lee

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178754516016920250825-bureau-of-customs-JC0998.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Bureau of Customs building is seen in this photo taken on August 25, 2025. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday said it would continue to work with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in operations against smuggled goods despite an incident involving its personnel and the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) during the destruction of confiscated illicit goods in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.</p><p>The statement came after tensions rose between BOC and HPG during the destruction of confiscated illicit goods in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, where police personnel frisked Customs officers.</p><p>&quot;Maganda ang samahan namin at marami na kaming successful operations ng Philippine National Police. Ayokong masira &#x27;yun dahil lang sa pagkukulang na huli,&quot; said BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.</p><p>Nepomuceno said the HPG’s actions were improper because the BOC personnel were carrying out a lawful operation.</p><p>&quot;Initially, ang habol ko lang sana ay &#x27;yung tamang procedure lang dahil dumating &#x27;yung mga tauhan ng HPG, mga tauhan namin, frineeze nila, kinapkapan, nakataas ang kamay. Hindi naman tama &#x27;yan dahil naka-uniporme ang aking mga tauhan,&quot; he said.</p><p>He said the issue could have been resolved had the PNP personnel apologized for what happened.</p><p>&quot;Kung nag-sorry lang, okay, baka okay na ako. Kaya lang biglang binago &#x27;yung narrative. Ang narrative naman, meron daw dalawang taga-BOC na hinuhuli doon sa tabi ng condemnation area,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Ang pagsasampa ng reklamo ay isang proseso upang makita namin ang aming hinaing doon sa pagkakamali na nagawa,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/4/p2-million-fake-food-enhancer-seized-in-bulacan-public-warned-vs-possible-health-risks-1152">P2-million fake food enhancer seized in Bulacan; public warned vs possible health risks</a></div><p>Meanwhile, Nepomuceno said the BOC would not tolerate any of its personnel who might be involved in selling confiscated cigarettes.</p><p>&quot;Kung totoong binebenta ng taga-Customs ang mga sigarilyo na nahuli, siya mismo ang papahuli. Hindi ko ito ito-tolerate. Kung totoong may nagbebenta na mga taga-BOC ng mga sigarilyong nahuli, interes ko at obligasyon ko na kasuhan ang mga &#x27;yan,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>OTHER NEWS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7QmV-bZfb4o?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4AptyLyoIp0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Bureau of Customs on Monday said it would continue to work with the Philippine National Police in operations against smuggled goods despite an incident involving its personnel and the Highway Patrol Group during the destruction of confiscated illicit goods in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.</p>

The Bureau of Customs on Monday said it would continue to work with the Philippine National Police in operations against smuggled goods despite an incident involving its personnel and the Highway Patrol Group during the destruction of confiscated illicit goods in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

Customs says ties with PNP good despite Bulacan incident

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Customs says ties with PNP good despite Bulacan incident

Izzy Lee,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 24, 2026 01:28 PM PHT

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Customs

Bureau Of Customs

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Bulacan

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