MANILA, Philippines – Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio vowed that “heads will roll” if any of the agency’s personnel are found to have been involved in the attempted resale of P270 million worth of smuggled cigarettes previously seized in Capas, Tarlac.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is probing the possible involvement of BOC personnel in the resale attempt, raising concerns over internal collusion in smuggling activities.

“I already instructed the Intelligence Group’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service to look into this matter and report to me immediately. The NBI has our full cooperation and I promise that anyone found involved in this will be held accountable. Heads will roll,” Rubio said.

He noted that the agency remains committed to eliminating cigarette smuggling. 

“We are one with the NBI and thank them in the fight against cigarette smuggling. We have made significant progress in this regard, seizing P5.1 billion worth of e-cigarettes/vapes and P4.1 billion worth of tobacco and cigarettes, for a total of almost P9.3 billion last year,” he said.

Port of Subic Acting District Collector Marlon Fritz Broto confirmed that the Office of the District Collector (ODC) had immediately ordered an internal review following reports of the illicit resale attempt. 

The Acting Chief of the Auction and Cargo Disposal Unit (ACDU) was directed to coordinate with the NBI and local authorities “to provide clarity” on the status of the confiscated cigarettes.

The smuggled shipments, which arrived at the Port of Subic in four batches between July 2021 and June 2022, were declared abandoned and later seized for disposal in 2023.

“Once the bond was settled, the process began and the condemnation started last January 6 and again on February 9 when the last three containers were transported to the said facility,” Broto said.

Internal findings revealed that the NBI’s buy-bust operation took place “during a shift change for ACDU, ESS, and CIIS Port of Subic Customs personnel guarding the condemnation process.”

Of the five containers intercepted, four were originally consigned to Hongcim International Corp., while one was consigned to Proline Logistics Philippines Inc. 

The BOC also confirmed that Hazchem North was the waste disposal company contracted for the destruction of the confiscated cigarettes. 

However, the NBI alleged that the owner of Hazchem North ordered his environmental consultant to find a buyer for the smuggled goods instead.

Rubio reiterated that the BOC will not tolerate any involvement of its personnel in illegal activities.

“Our coordination with the NBI has always been one of the reasons our operations have been successful. If the investigation targets someone from our team, that’s all the more reason we should work together with the NBI to get to the bottom of this and hold people accountable,” he said.

“We are an open book. Anything the NBI needs from us, we’ll be committed and eager to provide access to them,” he added.

The BOC has yet to disclose if any personnel have been identified in the ongoing investigation, but Rubio assured the public that those responsible will be held accountable.