2 Customs Officials Arrested by NBI Over Alleged Extortion in Manila

NBI Arrested 2 Customs Officials After Accused of Extortion in Manila

The operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested two (2) officials from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) over alleged extortion.

After receiving information about their extortion activities in Manila, the NBI set up an entrapment against the two. The personnel from Customs were named as appraiser Zosimo Bello and examiner Bong Seletaria, according to a GMA News report.

Customs Officials Extortion

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The officers were arrested, according to the NBI, after the complainant presented the marked money equal to P30,000 at a Harbor View Restaurant in Manila during their joint entrapment operation with the BOC. The complainant is stated to have approached the officials in search of legal documentation for importing farm machinery.

Despite the fact that they were already importing their machines with legal documentation, officials demanded a monthly bribe or “payola” to expedite the procedure. Atty. Jun Donggallo, regional director of the NBI special projects team, stated that their modus operandi does not honor paperwork and that the items have been prohibited.

“Ang ginagawa nitong mga officials allegedly hindi hino-honor yung document at instead i-facilitate ng mabilis hinaharang so alam na natin yun na ang modus neto ay para maabala, mag-give in sa request nila na financial consideration,” Donggallo said.

An importer had earlier reported the arrested officials to the agency for extorting P300,000 in exchange for the release of their consignment, according to Customs. As a result, the BOC launched an entrapment operation against the officials right once.

The arrested officials rejected the claims, claiming that the complainant was merely seeking assistance in lowering his taxes. They’ll be charged with robbery, extortion, graft, and other forms of corruption.

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