Stakeholders of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have asked the Office of the President and the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate allegations of smuggling protection, corruption, and abuse of authority involving officials of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), according to a letter dated Dec. 11, 2025.

The letter, addressed to President Marcos, was signed by individuals identifying themselves as concerned officials, employees, importers, exporters, brokers, and stakeholders of the BOC.

The group requested an “immediate and impartial investigation” into alleged activities attributed to CIIS leadership, including questions surrounding appointments and operational conduct.

According to the document, stakeholders claimed that smuggling activities involving various regulated and prohibited goods allegedly increased following changes in CIIS leadership in mid-2025.

The allegations cited in the letter involve the reported entry of drugs, tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, fuel, motor vehicles, and agricultural commodities through several ports.

The stakeholders said individuals were allegedly identified as being connected to the reported activities, emphasizing that these claims were raised by concerned parties and are not established findings.

They further alleged that revenue collections in multiple ports, including the Port of Manila, Batangas, Subic, and other major collection areas, may have been affected during the same period.

The letter also claimed that enforcement efforts against illegal drugs and misdeclared shipments were allegedly undermined by technical smuggling and misdeclaration schemes.

As part of their request, the stakeholders asked authorities to consider preventive measures, including possible suspension of concerned officials pending investigation, to protect government interests and preserve evidence.

They also called for a review of revenue performance, enforcement actions, and container profiling results in the ports cited in the document.

Copies of the letter were furnished to the Office of the Ombudsman, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation, and other oversight bodies.

The stakeholders stressed that the allegations remain unproven and said the request was made to strengthen accountability, protect government revenue, and uphold public trust in the Bureau of Customs.