Alberto Lina goes after bogus reporters

Commissioner Alberto Lina has continued his predecessors’ media reform program to ferret out bogus journalists covering the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

In a July 10 memorandum, Lina stressed the need to “ensure that only bona fide media professionals are allowed entry to the BOC premises at the Port of Manila.”

“Only legitimate press members and groups shall be accredited,” Lina said.

Applications for media accreditation will be “considered on a case-to-case basis,” he added.

Lina warned the BOC media accreditation could be revoked for, among other things, involvement in smuggling, violation of the Philippine Journalists Code of Ethics and allowing other people to use one’s press card.

Some reporters covering the Customs beat found the memo confusing.

On the item, “access to Customs offices and other facilities,” Lina declared that for security reasons, media people “are not authorized to enter any office other than the press office unless invited by the office head.”

A media person, who asked not to be identified for obvious reasons, asked: “How come smugglers and other Customs players are given access to many, if not all, BOC offices?”

Another media man said this happened “especially on Fridays,” indicating that the payment of “tara” or bribes, by traders to corrupt personnel to facilitate the release of their misdeclared and undervalued imported goods, usually took place on Fridays.

Media men of dubious affiliations had been suspected of serving as fixers or public relations agents of smugglers and other unscrupulous personnel.–Jerry E. Esplanada