3 BOC personnel sacked for harassing Fil-Am entertainer

MANILA, Philippines - Three Customs examiners are in hot water for allegedly asking for “free samples” of promotional shirts from a visiting Filipino-American entertainer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The three – Omar Indol, Samuel Saed and Cecilia Venzon – were relieved from their posts and transferred to the Human Resource Management Division (HRMD) pending investigation, Customs commissioner Napoleon Morales said Thursday. “Apparently, the examiners asked for samples of the T-shirts which is against the bureau’s policies because this is not a commercial importation where you check the merchandise for right valuation and classifications,” Morales said. Morales said Indol, Saed and Venzon were all assigned at the at the arrival area of NAIA. Morales said Koy, a stand-up comedian who was scheduled for a one-night show in Manila, arrived in the country last October 24 on board Malaysian Airlines and was stopped by the three Customs personnel who inquired about the contents of his cargo. When the three saw the promotional shirts inside the cargo, they reportedly started asking for samples, which Morales said is in violation of existing Customs policies. “Even if these are just shirts, it is not the amount involved that is the issue, it is the act of asking,” Morales said. Morales said the three personnel will be made answerable for anti graft and corrupt practices. “This (relief) will create a fear factor for other personnel, you have to do your job or else,” he said. - GMANews.TV