ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A top official of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has proposed that owners of private wharves should sign a waiver providing access to the members of the Task Force Aduana to their docks.
Lawyer Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr., Bureau of Customs-Zamboanga district collector, made the proposal as he observed that the members of the Task Force Aduana have difficulty in conducting anti-smuggling operations inside private wharves.
The Task Force Aduana, is an anti-smuggling group formed by the government, with the BOC-Zamboanga as one of its members.
The other members of the body are Task Force Zamboanga, Philippine Coast Guard, Zamboanga City Police Office, and other agencies of government tasked to combat smuggling.
Barte said Saturday the waiver will help them a lot in the conduct of anti-smuggling operations in private wharves, especially at night.
He said they have yet to locate and seek permission from the owners of the private wharves before they can enter and conduct anti-smuggling operations.
“It’s okay during the daytime, but out problem is in the evening. Once there is a waiver from the owner allowing us access, we can promptly do our tasks,” Barte said, adding the anti-smuggling operations in private wharves will be made transparent to the public. (PNA)
