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A customs appraiser and an examiner posted at the Bureau of Customs-Port of Manila (BOC-POM) were arrested by government operatives for alleged extortion
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The entrapment operation conducted on November 2 followed an importer’s report that BOC-POM appraiser Zosimo E. Bello and examiner Salvador V. Seleteria were extorting P300,000 for shipment release
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Bello and Seletaria have been temporarily detained by the National Bureau of Investigation and are awaiting inquest proceedings
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BOC is preparing criminal and administrative charges against the two employees
A customs appraiser and an examiner posted at the Bureau of Customs-Port of Manila (BOC-POM) were arrested by government operatives for alleged extortion of an importer in an entrapment operation conducted on November 2.
The entrapment operation stemmed from an importer’s report that BOC-POM appraiser Zosimo E. Bello and examiner Salvador V. Seleteria were extorting P300,000 in exchange for the release of a shipment, the customs bureau said in a statement.
The operation was conducted jointly by BOC, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Harbor View Restaurant in Manila—the agreed meeting place between the two customs personnel and the complainant importer, who was accompanied by an NBI undercover agent.
BOC and NBI agents apprehended Bello and Seleteria after the complainant importer handed them a white envelope containing marked money amounting to P30,000.
Bello and Seleteria have been temporarily detained by NBI and will be subjected to inquest proceedings.
The customs bureau is now preparing criminal and administrative charges against the two customs employees.
BOC noted it “is serious and committed in its drive to weed out its unscrupulous employees.”
According to its third quarter 2021 accomplishment report, BOC issued 516 show cause orders from January to September 2021 against customs employees for non-compliance with customs rules and regulations.
During the period, three Customs personnel were dismissed, 12 were suspended, six were reprimanded and six were relieved.
