BUREAU of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Rey Leonardo said he welcomes the announced intention of Senator Imee Marcos for a “deeper” probe of smuggling under the 19th Congress, noting his agency “has always actively participated in any and all hearings conducted by both Houses of Congress” since he assumed the top customs post nearly four years ago.

“We welcome the proposal of Sen. Imee Marcos for a ‘deeper probe’ of agricultural smuggling. May I note that since I was appointed Customs Commissioner in 2018, the Bureau of Customs has always actively participated in any and all hearings conducted by both Houses of Congress, as the congressional records would show,” said Guerrero in a statement released to media on Monday, July 4, 2022.

Guerrero made the announcement after Marcos, the chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, called on Friday, July 1, 2022, for a “deeper probe” of the smuggling of agricultural products after noting that the ‘Smugglers’ List’ released by the Senate last month under Senate Committee Report 649 drew mixed reactions, including doubt as to its accuracy.

“Some people should be on the list, while the inclusion of others is now being argued,” Marcos noted.

The report named 22 individuals allegedly involved in the smuggling of agricultural products, claiming the list came from another “validated report” but was silent as to where it came from and who made the validation.

Among those named were Guerrero and 4 other top customs officials. Also named was Navotas City mayor Toby Tiangco but not one top DA official, Marcos noted further.

“Among all local officials, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco has taken the toughest stand against smuggling by immediately filing grave charges against notorious syndicates.

On the other hand, why have the highest officials in DA been let off the hook?” Marcos asked, adding:

“The economic sabotage of our farmers’ livelihood and the country’s recovery itself won’t stop if the guilty are exempted and the innocent indicted.”

Guerrero had also questioned the Senate report, after noting that relevant law enforcement agencies he had talked to— the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)— denied to him providing the Senate with the names of alleged smugglers and their ‘protectors’ in government to include the officials of the BOC.

NICA director Edsel Batalla, in particular, denied in an earlier media interview that it was the NICA which gave the list to the Senate that was subsequently released to the public by Senate President Vicente Sotto III last June 22, 2022.

Guerrero dared their accusers to show evidence and file cases against them before the court where they would have a chance to air their side in the proper forum instead of being villfied in the court of public opinion.

A source close to Guerrero said they were “surprised” with the Senate report as not one name of any customs official purportedly involved in smuggling and other corrupt activities have been forwarded to them by the Senate for investigation despite Guerrero’s request at the start of the Senate hearing last December 14, 2021 and until its last hearing in April.

In his statement, Guerrero stressed further that they always consider any hearing called by both chambers of Congress as an “opportunity” for them “to answer all their (lawmakers) questions and even the unfounded allegations of some quarters bravely and honestly.”

However, he noted that the many reforms he has initiated during the past 4 years “that have greatly improved our operational efficiency and which resulted to historic accomplishments… have not received the attention and appreciation due them.”

For the collection month of June alone, the BOC has chalked a collection record of more than P76 billion, some P20 billion more than its assigned taget and also the highest collection in history by the agency in a single month thus far.

“Nevertheless, rest assured that the Bureau of Customs is always willing to participate in any legislative hearing even as we continue to commit ourselves to the highest level of public service and accountability,” Guerrero said.