MANILA, Philippines—Customs Commissioner John Philip Sevilla admitted at a Senate hearing on Wednesday the existence of “tara” system or grease money in the agency but said his office could not change it overnight.
Sevilla, head of the Bureau of Customs, made this admission when he faced lawmakers at the resumption of the Senate committee on agriculture on food’s investigation into the rice smuggling in the country.
Customs Commissioner John Phillip Sevilla. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net
It was Senate Minoriy Leader Juan Ponce-Enrile, who brought up the issue of the “tara” system.
“My question is, is it true that in the Customs you are using the ‘tara’ system?” Enrile asked in Filipino.
“So long as there’s no inspection, examination, for the 20-footer the fee would be P60,000? For the 40-footer, it would be P80,000? Is that right? Tell us if that is right or wrong. Is that correct?” he said.
As Sevilla could not immediately respond, Enrile asked: “Why can’t you answer?”
This prompted Sevilla to say, “I believe that it is happening.”
“It’s happening or is it your practice now? Enrile asked. “You can’t deny that. People outside of Customs are talking about that.”
Sevilla said: “If we could only change the ‘tara’ system overnight, we would have done so. But it’s root is deep.”
Suspected big-time rice smuggler Davidson Bangayan a.k.a “David Tan” was also present in the hearing but he has yet to be questioned by senators.
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