As part of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ruiz directives to continuously monitor and safeguard the country’s borders, BOC- Port of NAIA airport Customs authorities confiscates assorted agricultural products without the necessary import permit / clearance from Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) inside the luggage of 10 Philippine Airlines Flight Attendants coming from Dubai and Riyadh on January 10, 2023.
PAL spokesperson Ma. Cielo Villaluna said that a probe is now underway involving the ten crew members who were found to be carrying undeclared vegetables and fruits in their baggage.
“Philippine Airlines does not condone any violation of customs regulations. We will impose the appropriate disciplinary sanctions subject to the results of the investigations,” she said.
Villaluna added: “We are fully cooperating with the the customs authorities on this matter. We reiterate to all our personnel the need to adhere strictly to customs regulations at all times.”
The BOC-NAIA headed by District Collector Mimel Talusan said that physical examinations on their baggage were conducted following the X-Ray screening which revealed assorted agricultural products such as onions and fruits without the necessary Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) from Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).
Pursuant to the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, Importations of plant products are considered “Regulated Importations” which require a prior clearance or permit from the concerned government regulatory agency.
Further investigation is underway for the charges of Smuggling for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Presidential Decree 1433 for Violation of Plant Quarantine Law by Customs and Bureau of Plant Industry against the 10 flight crew.
PAL management informed BOC of their cooperation on this matter and that they will not condone any violations of their crew and investigate and impose necessary sanctions. (JERRY S. TAN)
