Two Bureau of Customs district collectors were relieved from their posts for implementing the benchmarking system instead of the proper valuation of imported shipments to raise revenue collections.
BoC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña sacked Port of Manila district collector Rhea Gregorio and Manila International Container Port collector Phillip Vincent Maronilla and were replaced by POM deputy collector Ernie Aquino and MICP deputy collector Rubie Alameda, respectively.
The two top customs district collectors were ordered relieved from their posts for ignoring Lapeña’s order to apply the correct valuation and assessment of each shipment to avoid the so-called “tara” system which is the source of corruption at the BoC.
In an executive meeting, Lapeña said the two district collectors disregard his order by implementing a benchmarking system and pegged a fixed assessment of P120,000 for a 20-footer container van and P150,000 to P170,000 for 40-footer containers which is illegal.
He said that his instruction is proper valuation and not benchmarking which is an illegal form of assessing duties and taxes of imported shipments.
The two major ports were also consistent in failing to meet its assigned monthly collection target since January this year.
He said the agency needs to collect more than P50 billion a month starting September to December to meet the P468 billion target.