MANILA—Sen. Raffy Tulfo urged the new leadership of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to purge corruption in its Accreditation Unit, which screens and approves brokers handling the country’s agricultural imports and exports.

At the Senate Committee on Agriculture hearing, Tulfo alleged that personnel in the unit accept 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, napaka-corrupt ng mga ‘yan!” he said.

Tulfo added that many brokers bypass regulations by paying fees, allowing them to use “dummy” individuals—such as drivers, warehouse workers, or household staff—to secure accreditation.

“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,” he said.

He also pointed out that some accredited brokerages 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 Tulfo that the agency would closely investigate these practices and take necessary measures to remove corrupt personnel.

Tulfo recommended implementing a face-to-face application system for brokers, requiring proper documentation such as proof of sufficient capital and valid licenses to ensure applicants are genuinely qualified.