The Bureau of Customs (BOC) denied that they were selling balikbayan boxes that were not collected. At the same time, they will conduct an investigation related to the alleged online sale of unclaimed balikbayan boxes.
In a report by Jonathan Andal on GMA News “24 Oras” this Wednesday, it was said that there are Facebook posts of unclaimed balikbayan boxes being sold for P5,000.
A video of a content creator who allegedly bought a balikbayan box that was not taken for P5,000 also went viral.
But BOC spokesperson Michael Fermin clarified that they do not sell balikbayan boxes that are not claimed.
“Iniimbestigahan natin kung saan yung source at anong balikbayan boxes ang ibinebenta online,” the official said.
Some cargo companies admitted that they sell online unclaimed packages that have been stored in warehouses for more than a year.
“We have spent money to mobilize the cargo from their homes, okay? And shipping it all the way and sending it to there and keeping it in safe and secure custody with us,” explained Golden Express International Cargo CEO George Matthew. “So at least let us cover a small part of the freight.”
BOC denies selling unclaimed Balikbayan boxes
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are upset that their hard-earned balikbayan boxes do not reach their relatives.
An OFW said that his balikbayan box was lost and that the BOC told him that he would pay P18,000 to P20,000 if found.
But Fermin denied such a trend for finding a balikbayan box.
“Kailanman po ay hindi tayo nag-demand ng babayaran para lang makuha nila ang kahon. Kung mapapatunayan po natin yan we will make sure po that we will file administrative cases and we will suspend or terminate itong empelyado na ito,” said Fermin.
(We never demanded payment just so they could get the box. If we can prove that, we will make sure that we will file administrative cases and we will suspend or terminate this employee.)
The BOC is said to release a list of accredited consolidators and forwarding companies to guide OFWs on where they should send balikbayan boxes so they don’t fall prey to exploiters.
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