Anyone Who Extort or Steal From Balik-bayan Box Will Face Imprisonment of Up To 12 Years

Very often we encounter posts regarding balik-bayan boxes. Last year, one of the battles that OFWs faced was the manual inspection of the balik-bayan boxes in the Bureau of Customs.

 According to the BOC, they did the manual inspection to determine the value of the cargo and if tax is to be imposed on the shipment. 

Many OFWs and expatriates protested against this in the social media to the point that President Aquino has to order to put a stop on the manual inspection. However, even after the order was said to have been implemented a lot of complain has still been circulating in Facebook regarding their cargo or balik-bayan boxes that has been tampered and opened. Usually reports and pictures of boxes includes complains of missing items in their shipment. 

   Senders of boxes and their family no longer knows if the blame should be to the Bureau of Customs who might have inspected their box in spite of the stop order or if the cargo forwarders might be taking advantage of the issue and situation.  But according to BOC, the manual inspection has been stopped and they are no longer opening boxes.

Senator Ralph Recto pushed for higher penalties against government officials or employees who will pilfer or steal items from the balik-bayan boxes. Anyone who will also extort money for the release of shipment or cargo will also be facing penalties. 

Recto said that through the proposed Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), a penalty of six years to 12 years imprisonment and a fine of P500,000 to P1 million await those who will be found guilty of pilferage and extortion in exchange of the release of balikbayan boxes.


Aside from the penalty and imprisonment, government officials or employees found guilty will also be perpetually disqualified from holding public office, and their benefits will be forfeited.

“The proposed law’s message is clear: If we cannot protect our OFWs and Balikbayans, we have no business to be in government,” the senator said.

©2016 THOUGHTSKOTO

REMINDER FROM BUREAU OF CUSTOMS - ALL IMPORTS, PERSONAL OR COMMERCIAL NEEDS TO BE PAID WITH TAXES

Some OFWs are complaining because of higher taxes collected from their packages from their relatives in the Philippines despite the fact that they already paid taxes when they send those packages. The Bureau of Customs reminds the public as well as the OFWs that all importations needs to paid with taxes, either personal or commercial. The BOC advised the senders to keep the receipt of the goods being sent.
 Read also: 

PRESIDENT AQUINO, PLEASE DON'T VETO THE NEW BALIKBAYAN BOX LAW

They are also saying that soon Pres. Aquino will sign the new law that will allow OFWs to send as much as P150,000 to be tax-free.

©2016 THOUGHTSKOTO

PRESIDENT AQUINO, PLEASE DON'T VETO THE NEW BALIKBAYAN BOX LAW

The new Customs Modernization and Tariff Act has passed the last and final reading of the bicameral conference committee of the Congress and Senate according to reports so it will be forwarded to Pres. Aquino's desk for his signature. The new law has some provisions that are good news for the OFWs and expats living abroad.

One good news is the tax-exemption up to P150,000 for all OFWs. This means that an OFW can send two boxes at the same time provided that their total worth is not more than P150,000. That will be counted as one shipment, and an OFW can send up to 3 shipment in a year. The boxes, however, must contain “personal and household effects only and shall neither be in commercial quantities, nor intended for barter, sale or for hire."

“This is to prevent senders from abusing this privilege. With this privilege comes the duty to observe the law. It also comes with penalties so that smugglers won’t take advantage of it,” according to Senator Ralph Recto, one of the principal author of the law.

The bill also includes a provision indexing rates to inflation, “so that it will not take another quarter of a century to adjust the tax-exempt ceiling for balikbayan boxes,” Recto added.

According to Senator Sonny Angara, co-author of the law, an OFW who is working abroad for more than 5 years can send up to P250,000 tax free balikbayan box in a year, while an OFW working for 10 years and above, can send up to P350,000.

Read more:

BREAKING NEWS: P150,000 WORTH OF BALIKBAYAN BOX TO BE TAX-FREE APPROVED IN THE SENATE TODAY!

Value of tax-exempt balikbayan goods raised to P150,000

©2016 THOUGHTSKOTO