What a Shame: Customs Opens Wrong Package!

01/25/2016 | 10:46 0 Posted in Local Issues

The news about Bureau of Customs Employee (BOC) who opened a pouch intended for Japanese Royals has been making rounds online recently. The incident was considered by many as “disgusting and shameful”.

Last month, a Bureau of Customs (BOC) examiner — who is posted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Pair Cargo Customs Bonded Warehouse in Pasay City — committed a serious diplomatic “faux pas” when he insisted on examining the diplomatic pouches consigned to the Japanese Embassy in Manila containing among others, the “sake” (Japanese wine) to be used for the welcome reception in honor of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

Japan’s royal couple is set to arrive in Manila tomorrow, Tue, Jan 26, for their five-day state visit.

“The examiner’s blunder has prompted the office of Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina to order the NAIA-BOC District Office to undertake a probe on the said incident,” report Genalyn D. Kabiling and Roy C. Mabasa in Manila Bulletin.

The report noted: “A diplomatic pouch is any property identified and sealed package, pouch, bag, or other container that is used to transport official correspondence, documents, and other articles intended for official use of embassies, consulates, and the offices of public international organizations, among others.

In accordance with Article 27.3 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR), properly designated diplomatic pouches ‘shall not be opened or detained.'”

The report went on to say that “under the same Convention, any search or inspection of a properly labeled diplomatic pouch constitutes a ‘serious breach,’ as international law does not even set any limits on the permissible size, weight and quantity of diplomatic pouches.”

The report said that “it was not known if the Japanese Embassy has lodged a formal protest regarding the incident but a well-placed BOC source said the Embassy was ‘very disappointed’ about the unwarranted examination of their cargo.”

The BOC examiner’s claim has been questioned, though, as “customs examiners and appraisers are aware of the standard procedure in handling diplomatic pouches.”

Nevertheless, Lina ordered Balatbat to “explain in writing as to how and why the embarrassing incident happened.”

Many believed that the examiner was curious about the content of the package that’s why he opened it despite of the policy.