By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Following the Bureau of Customs’ investigation after a viral video on social media showed a content creator saying he bought a care package for P5,000, a top BOC official has clarified that the selling of balikbayan boxes online is covered by a service agreement involving the sender.
“‘Yun pong mismong pinapakita ay kahon mula sa kumpanya… ito po ay binenta sa ilalim po ng service agreement ng mga senders. Ito po kasi ay parang promo. Sa initial report po, lumilitaw po na ito ay promo na ship now, pay later,” BOC acting deputy commissioner Michael Fermin said in a recent interview on GMA-7 Unang Balita television program.
Fermin added that as per the agreement if senders could not pay the cost of shipment and mobilization within two months, they would allow the company to liquidate the balikbayan boxes.
“So ibig sabihin, nagbabayad lang po sila ng downpayment abroad at pagdating po dito, kailangan nilang bayaran ‘yung balanse upon delivery po,” he added.
The BOC deputy commissioner also said that individuals who are found to be selling balikbayan boxes that do not belong to them may be charged with estafa.
He denied claims that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with missing balikbayan boxes must pay P18,000 to P20,000 to locate their parcels.
“Nananawagan po kami na ‘wag po silang bastang maniwala. Nagkalat po ang mga scam, nagpapakilala na empleyado ng BOC at kailangan magbayad. Kailanman po, hindi po mag sisingil ang BOC, lalo na po over the phone,” Fermin said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
