Simplify tax system, senators tell new customs execs

Senators on Thursday advised Malacañang’s new appointees to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to simplify its taxation system to minimize tax evasion.

“Simplify the system,” said Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, the chair of the banks and financial institutions committee. “Because the more complicated it is, the more your agents can run circles around you.”

Osmeña said the BOC’s current tariff book “has maybe 100,000 items.  That’s where the corruption takes place.  (New Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon) just has to simplify it.”

According to Sen. Edgardo Angara, technical smuggling takes place when importers “bring in expensive goods labeled as cheap items.”

“If Ruffy can solve that, he could easily bring in more than P200 billion in revenues for the government,” Angara said at the Kapihan sa Senado.

Osmeña is optimistic that the appointment of Biazon as commissioner and former Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim as deputy commissioner for intelligence would bring “good surprises.”

“Let’s get them settled for about six months. Danny Lim is a good backup.  They will be able to work in tandem.  I think the President made a right decision in bringing in an outsider, so there will be no buddy-buddy or padrino system,” Osmeña said.