The Bureau of Customs examiner assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, identified as Pompeo Manalo, who inadvertently opened diplomatic pouches of the Japan Embassy for examination offered for “an apology for an honest mistake.”
Bureau of Customs (Photo Credit: ThePhilippinePride)
According to NAIA Customs District Collector Edgar Macabeo, the diplomatic cargo is exempted from such procedures especially for opening the cargo. The NAIA Customs District collector said that he immediately reprimanded the customs examiner and his supervisor after an investigation was conducted for “unauthorized examination of the diplomatic pouches” consigned to the Japanese Embassy in Manila.
The diplomatic pouches addressed to the Japanese Embassy in Manila arrived last November 30, and was released on December 2, 2015. The following day, December 3, Macabeo reprimanded Pompeo Manalo who examined the pouches without due authorization.
Based upon the records of the Japanese embassy, the diplomatic pouches reportedly contained among others, the “sake” (Japanese wine) for the welcome reception in the evening of January 28 in honor of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress who are scheduled to arrive Tuesday for a five-day state visit to the country.
Aside from the bottles of sake, the diplomatic pouches also reportedly contained several official items of the Japanese Embassy and a photo album collection of President Benigno Aquino III and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.