Netizen Charged With 15 thousand Peso Tax on Package from London

Original Facebook post
(c) Mhelody Olga

Amidst the backlash from Filipino citizens worldwide, the Bureau of Customs under Bert Lina’s command has started to open packages sent from OFWs abroad into the Philippines. The latest incident comes from a Mhelody Olga who was set to receive a package from her auntie in London. According to the Facebook post, the lady from BOC admired the bag and lamented that a tax had to be collected. According to the lady, she and her officemates searched online for the actual price but didn’t find the exact model. Instead they chose a bag that looks the same as the one sent and tagged it at $1,200 dollars.

Mhelody was given a receipt detailing how they computed the tax of an item that they did not have a definite price one and was given the figure of Php 15,959. Mhelody then asked the BOC employee what would happen if she did not claim the bag, would the BOC send the bag back to her auntie? The employee only replied no as the item will be forfeited in favor of the government.

Photo of computation 

(c) Mhelody Olga

Philippines is one the most taxed countries in Asia with a maximum 32% on income tax, 12% on VAT and other taxes such as the 15% tax on “imported goods” sent by OFWs abroad. OFWs themselves face hardships abroad trying to earn a livable wage in their country of employment. It is only when they exchange their earnings to Philippine peso will they enjoy their labor. Even that is being encroached upon by the Philippine government.

There seems to be no escape with Lina’s implementation as even baggage going through NAIA is subject to the “kalkal” system of BOC. Hundreds of people have posted their horror stories of being forced to open bags and seeing their gifts and earnings dumped in front of them, hastily estimated and taxed. Several balked at paying such prices and had their items confiscated, as to where it will go, no one says clearly. Some even shared stories on how they were tricked into looking away while BOC employees looted their baggage. Most Filipinos only find out about their lost items after they’ve gone home and unpacked.

Even so NAIA claims no responsibility of the matter. Even asking for CCTV footage would take a long time and Filipinos have to go through much red tape that they would decide to ignore the incident. One of the riskier ways to get past the BOC is to look for the “leader” of the group and palm a significant amount with a brief handshake. Some even stated that they used foreign currency to trick the BOC into thinking they got a large amount and then slipping past them with baggage intact.

This controversial move of Bert Lina is significant as the previous head of the BOC resigned after allegedly forced into raising a very large sum for the Liberal Party of which the President of the Philippines is a member. The BOC is capable of collecting taxes from Filipinos and foreigners alike to amounts as large as Php 484 billion every quarter which makes the agency a viable source of campaign funds.

Sources:

• ‘Sevilla fired for refusing to raise P3 B for LP’ – Philstar
• www.facebook.com