AMID THE GRUMBLINGS of several players at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) due to what they call “impractically high” duties and taxes, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) warned smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products that their days were numbered.

Does it also mean that there will be changes at the country’s revenue-generating agency that is seemingly helpless in stamping out agri smuggling while some of the appointees of former President Digong Duterte are still in their holdover position?

“Sadyang hindi tama ang kanilang gawain at hindi rin ito tugma sa ating magandang layunin, pandaraya ang kanilang ginagawa,” PBBM pointed out.

I concur with the President.

“Napapahamak hindi lamang mga magsasaka, kundi tayo ring mamimili kaya’t hindi natin papayagan ang ganitong kalakaran. Bilang na ang araw ng mga smugglers at hoarders na ‘yan,” the Chief Executive stressed.

Even the critics of PBBM admit that the President is “sobrang mabait.”

If only President listens to Kenny Rogers’ “Coward of the county” song or Alice Cooper’s “No More Mr. Nice Guy” song and really kick hard the smugglers’ butt.

It is not rocket science to deduce that these Agri smugglers must be in cahoots with a few corrupt Customs officials.

Sad to say while these few corrupt officials are enjoying their loot, so to speak, the salaries of the lowly Customs employees are not at par with those of other government agencies.

Whenever it’s raining cats and dogs, some outports don’t even have a shuttle mini bus to offer rides to stranded Customs employees.

To think that the BOC is raking in billions of pesos from their “exorbitant” duties and taxes, their comfort rooms ironically remain uncomfortable.

Apparently fearing reprisal, many Customs brokers don’t openly oppose the “high” duties and taxes on their shipments.

I wonder what’s the use of the Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. when it cannot fight for the rights and welfare of CCBI members.

However, just like an old FPJ movie, there will come a time of reckoning.

Kapag napuno na ang salop. (ai/mnm)