The Bureau of Customs (BOC) denied issuing a memo that requires a mandatory cash bond from new importers seeking accreditation with the bureau and is set to conduct a thorough investigation to identify individuals or groups behind what it said a malicious act.
In a statement, the BOC called the memo, purportedly issued by Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio on November 21, 2024, “baseless” and “strongly.”
“The uncovered falsification of document, which was deliberately made to appear as one issued by the Office of the Commissioner, is a dire attempt to mislead the public and undermine the integrity of the BOC’s operations, not mention concomitant swindling schemes against gullible and unsuspecting transacting stakeholders,” BOC said.
The Bureau further clarifies that no such memorandum has been issued by the Office of the Commissioner. The information and regulations contained in the document are entirely baseless and do not reflect the policies or practices of the agency.
“The BOC will conduct thorough investigation into the matter to identify the individuals or groups behind this malicious act. Legal action will certainly be pursued to the fullest extent against those found responsible for this fraudulent activity,” the BOC statement added.
The BOC urges the public, stakeholders, and the importing community to exercise vigilance and verify the authenticity of any communication or policy through official channels.
