Two officers of the Bureau of Customs arrested for extorting money
BUREAU OF CUSTOMS – Two employees of the agency were arrested due to extortion.
BOC is a Philippine government agency under the Department of Finance established on February 6, 1902 by the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands of the United States of America.
One of its primary duties under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA 10863) is the prevention and suppression of smuggling and other customs fraud.
On the other hand, extortion is the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats.
Recently, two customs officers were arrested by the authorities for extortion.
Zosimo E. Bello, a customs appraiser, and Salvador V. Seletaria, an examiner at the Collection District No. II-A at the Port of Manila were accused of extorting money from an importer in exchange for the release of a shipment.
According to the victim, the two were demanding P300,000 in exchange for the release of a shipment.
Then, the importer sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The customs officers were arrested after receiving a white envelope containing the money in an operation conducted at Harbor View Restaurant in Manila.
“That is part of what the Bureau of Customs is doing now, the BOC really processes and acts if there are complaints like this one,” said BOC spokesperson Jet Moranilla.
Meanwhile, the two are being detained at the NBI.
Bello and Seletaria will be subjected to inquest proceedings while the Bureau of Customs prepares the appropriate charges they will be facing.
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