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Yap particularly wants to scrap the Customs fund, most especially in intelligence opns. Reason? 2 Chinese nationals arrested last Friday over 1.6 billion shipment; last Sept, 1.3 billion smuggled cigarettes were seized; last Aug, 2.2 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes seized. https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines/status/1321829555401682944
Customs surpassed its monthly target collection by 5.2% or 2.5 billion for month of October. A total revenue of 50.9 billion against its target of 48.4 billion. This is the 5th consecutive month Customs hits its revenue target collection,getting into the nerves of politicians.
In January, rumors came out that Commissioner Guerrero will be replaced by Davao-based China envoy William Lima. This, following a year of accomplishment in 2019 seizing total of 20.58 worth of smuggled goods & illegal drugs. Now, NBI wants to file cases vs the Customs generals.
That powerfully-backed politicians want Customs military generals removed or faced with an unfounded case despite a series of successful operations against billions worth of shabu shipments and smuggled goods gives a very clear message: it is no longer business as usual for them.
Yap is a representative of ACT-Partylist, whose other representative is Cong Jocelyn Tulfo,wife of Raffy Tulfo. 2010, Ben and Raffy Tulfo were tagged in fake goods seized by Customs. 2018, Mon Tulfo was tagged by a Customs exec as alleged beneficiary of a convicted drug smuggler.
According to a report by the Manila Times thru a source, import declarations show that Yap uses Scuderia, Luxbuilt and Borla as consignees. Yap’s shipments were usually undervalued or misdeclared. Yap’s troubleshooter at the port is Josh Vergara.
From the same report thru a source, a brand-new McLaren 602 supercar (valued at 33Mwith 16.7M for duties and taxes) for Yap was misdeclared as Porsche Cayman sports car, which is subject to lower duties and taxes but importer paid only 1.5M.
Also from the same report, Yap’s group dabbles in contraband like trucks, agri products, cigarettes, steel and general merchandise. It was also mentioned that Yap uses the names of Bong Go and Polong Duterte.
Source: https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/08/19/news/national/corruption-thrives-at-customs-bureau/757503/
Source: https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/08/19/news/national/corruption-thrives-at-customs-bureau/757503/
Before Commissioner Guerrero became chief, 11 billion worth of shabu slipped thru Customs during the time of his predecessor Isidro Lapeña. During Lapeña’s predecessor Nicanor Faeldon, 6.4 billion worth of shabu slipped thru Customs. Now, you want Guerrero and funding removed?
Because intelligence is the heart of every operation, defunding it will paralyze the entire operation resulting to more drugs, more smuggled goods. And who will benefit from it? Your guess is as good as mine.
From Customs, let’s talk BIR. Yap also wants to defund certain divisions within the BIR involved in shutting down POGO firms for failure to remit millions in franchise taxes. Last February, he mocked the DOF-led Task Force working with Immigration and DOLE calling it toothless.
It can be recalled that the crackdown of POGOs in 2019 resultes to a 169% increase or 4.04 billion increase on tax collection. Despite this, Yap said the Task Force’s efforts were inadequate. By April, Yap himself proposed for POGO resumption after its suspension due to ECQ.
By May, POGO operations resumed thanks to the baseless proposal of Yap that it contributes to an annual revenue of 6 billion. The BIR refuted, saying POGO industry owes the government 50 billion of unpaid taxes. BIR and Customs, both under the DOF, are Yap’s target for defunding.
Honorable Congressman Eric Yap, who threatened less or zero operational funding to Customs & BIR with Honorable Congressman Paolo Duterte and Atty Mans Carpio, husband of Mayor Sara Duterte. Cong Duterte & Carpio were cleared in the 6.4 billion shabu shipment case in 2018.
Last month, Customs foiled the smuggling of secondhand luxury cars worth about P20 million each and apprehended illegally imported cigarettes valued at about P60 million. Business is going 
for some; for Customs, revenue collection is at an all-time high despite pandemic.
for some; for Customs, revenue collection is at an all-time high despite pandemic.
