Binalaan ng isang netizen na si Marivic Tan ang mga returning Filipino residents laban sa isang Bureau of Customs inspector na nagngangalang Kamin Von Ernest Lajara sa Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2.
Sa isang Facebook post, ikinuwento ni Tan na nakita niyang hinaharass umano ni Lajara ang isang returning resident dahil sa pamimili nito ng kaniyang personal effect na nagkakahalaga ng mahigit P10,000.
Ayon umano sa Custom declaration form na ipinost niya, "Returning Residents and Returning OFWs are granted a tax and duty exemption on importation of their personal and household effects in an amount of up to PHP 350,000, subject to the conditions prescribed under rules and regulations. Any amount in excess of the threshold shall be subject to the corresponding duties and taxes under the CMTA and the NIRC, as amended."
Pagbabahagi ni Tan, nang malaman umano ni Lajara na alam nila kung ano ang nilalaman ng information sheet, pinapalabas ni Lajara sa kaniyang assistant ang isang file folder na naglalaman umano ng mga batas.
Archdiocese of Manila, hindi mag-eendorso ng kandidato sa eleksyon
"When Lajara realized that we were educated enough to quote the information sheet, he started to act out and have his assistant bring out a file folder allegedly saying it’s in the “Philippine Law” not “Customs Law” (pwede diay mag-pass law ang customs?)!" saad ni Tan.
"Then when i asked the customs people to show me the pertinent document in the file folder, they could not do so. Lajara called his supervisor who was apparently not even in the building and expected the returning Filipino resident to wait a long time for his supervisor, risking him to miss his connecting flight which Customs won’t pay for if he missed it!" dagdag pa niya.
Dumating din daw ang Customs police at binulungan umano si Lajara tungkol sa provision ng information sheet. Bigla na lamang daw naging maayos ang pakikitungo ng inspector sa returning resident.
"Customs police came and whispered to Lajara citing the provision in the information sheet…. Suddenly, Lajara, (as if to save face) asked the Returning Resident “ah sir, how long na pala kayo…?”.
"I interrupted and said, “you have the nerve to harass this guy, make him miss his connecting flight which you are not willing to pay for without asking him the pertinent questions to start with?" ani Tan.
Pagkatapos niyang magsalita, pinapunta na sila ng custom police sa exit at sinabi raw na "misunderstanding" lang ang lahat.
"The customs police tried to appease us by making us go ahead to the exit saying it was all a misunderstanding! Naku!!!! If the returning resident was not knowlegeable of the provisions, for sure nakwartahan na to.
"Lajara said he was experienced and bragged he knew the Philippine laws after 2 years working in customs. Well, he only proved he was a green horn! Kadaghan mas mahal pa ang gi-shopping pero they called the attention of an innocent returning resident who wasn’t actually violating any laws." patutsada pa niya.
Gayunman may mensahe rin siya sa BOC.
"To Philippine Customs,…Don’t pick on small innocent Filipinos… go catch the smugglers, the big fish!"
Samantala, habang isinusulat ang Balitang ito, wala pang tugon ang Bureau of Customs ng nasabing airport hinggil sa isyu na ito.
