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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Raffy Tulfo tags BOC's accreditation unit in ₱100K broker approval scheme

Raffy Tulfo tags BOC's accreditation unit in ₱100K broker approval scheme

Published Sep 2, 2025 04:51 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Raffy Tulfo urged the Bureau of Customs to purge its corrupt Accreditation Unit after revealing that bogus brokers allegedly pay ₱100,000 under the table for accreditation, enabling agricultural smuggling.
Senator Raffy Tulfo urged the new leadership of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to clean up the agency, particularly its Accreditation Unit, which screens and approves brokers handling the country’s agricultural imports and exports.
Senator Raffy Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator Raffy Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)
During the Senate Committee on Agriculture hearing on Monday, Sept. 1, Tulfo exposed the scheme allegedly carried out by personnel from the said unit, who receive under-the-table payments of around ₱100,000 in exchange for approving bogus broker applications.
“It’s about time maglinis kayo sa Accreditation unit ng Bureau of Customs (BOC), napaka-corrupt ng mga ‘yan (It’s about time you clean up the Bureau of Customs’ Accreditation Unit—they’re extremely corrupt)” he said. 
“Kaya maraming nakakalusot na smuggler ng agricultural products dahil karamihan ng brokers na nagpapa-accredit sa Customs ay nagbibigay lang ng ₱100K. Tapos ang gagamitin nila, mga taong dummy – minsan pangalan ng drayber, bodegero o kasamabahay nila (That’s why so many agricultural product smugglers get through—because most brokers applying for Customs accreditation just pay ₱100,000. Then they use dummy names—sometimes their driver, warehouseman, or even household helper),” he added. 
Tulfo added that some accredited brokerages even list fake company addresses—sometimes as absurd as the base of an Acacia tree or other random locations.
Newly appointed Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno assured the senator that the agency will closely look into these practices and take the necessary measures to weed out corrupt personnel.
Tulfo also recommended that Customs implement a face-to-face application system for brokers, requiring them to present proper documents such as proof of sufficient capital and valid licenses to ensure they are genuinely qualified.

Related Tags

Raffy Tulfo Bureau of Customs (BOC) agriculture Smuggling agricultural products
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