NEW CUSTOMS BUREAU CHIEF VOWS TO PROSECUTE SMUGGLERS

PROSECUTION of smuggling syndicates was the Bureau of Customs' main weak
point that must be addressed soon to boost its revenue collections, newly
installed customs commissioner Antonio M. Bernardo said.

Past administrations were competent in intelligence gathering and
enforcement of customs rules but they were largely ineffective in suing
transgressors, Bernardo said.

"I think we just need to put more political will in the prosecution of
smugglers in order to show to the public that justice will be served to
violators," he said.

As imports decrease and tariff rates go down, the bureau needs to be more
creative in finding ways to boost revenues, such as by toughening up on
smuggling, collecting penalties on traders and banks, and maximizing the
auction of seized goods, Bernardo said.

The customs bureau aims to generate 115.1 billion pesos in revenues this year.'

Bernardo said he was determined to make the bureau a showcase for a
graft-free agency in keeping with the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's
mandate for him to clean up its image.

He admitted that by its nature, the customs bureau was a breeding ground
for graft and corruption but said this could be solved through effective
management of officials and employees.

To address concerns of businessmen on delays in the release of their goods,
Bernardo said the bureau adopt a more capable system to speed up processing
of imports.