BIR, BOC told to run after smugglers

NEOPHYTE SENATOR Raffy Tulfo has told the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to run after big time smugglers and not on some small fry following complaints from a vlogger and an online seller who claimed that some agents from the agency visited their homes and knocked on their doors to inquire about their tax payments.

Tulfo stressed that if the government really wants to collect serious money through taxation, its focus should be on the big fish, like bigtime oil smugglers, and not on some small fry.

“Bakit di nila unahing habulin ang mga bigtime oil smugglers na limpak-limpak na pera ang pwede nilang makolekta kumpara sa mga vloggers at individual online sellers na alam naman nilang barya-barya lamang ang makokolekta nila?” he asked.

While he acknowledges that Filipinos who are earning should pay the corresponding taxes as stated by the law, Tulfo maintained that the government must know their priorities if their intention is to maximize state revenue through taxation.

Tulfo, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Energy, pointed out that billions of pesos annually could have been collected if only the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is properly doing its job in preventing oil smuggling.

It can be noted that the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law mandates fuel marking in order to reduce oil smuggling in the country wherein imported fuel is marked by the government using a special ink that signifies payments of correct tax dues.

To help prevent oil smuggling and ensure that marker is added to the fuel accurately, the government entered into a contract with Switzerland-based inspection services provider Societe Generale de Surveillance.

Tulfo, however, expressed doubts over the technology provider considering that oil smuggling continues to run rampant despite its existence. “Justifiable ba yang contract kung laganap pa din ang oil smuggling sa bansa? The government should consider developing the same technology and training our people to properly operate it para makatipid tayo. Kahit mayroon ng marking scheme, marami pa ring mga nakakalusot at nai-smuggle na oil dahil may mga times na hndi nilalagyan ng oil marking itong mga barge from bigtime oil companies o di kaya ay hindi dine-declare lahat.”

“Halimbawa, 1 out of 100 drums lang ang ide-declare at yung isa lamang ang malalagyan ng marking. Isa pang rampant ay itong tinatawag na - Paihi - kung saan doon pa lamang sa laot ay tina-transfer na yung mga oil sa barko papunta sa mga barge at dine-deliver sa oil depot,” he said.

Tulfo said this reality should prompt BIR, as well as BOC, to prioritize going after the mastermind of oil smuggling instead of targeting vloggers and online sellers with small earnings.

“Bakit hindi na lang bisitahin ng mga taga BIR o BOC ang mga bahay at katukin ang mga pinto ng mga bigtime oil smugglers? Baka naman hindi nila ito kayang gawin dahil itong mga oil smugglers ang mismong kumakatok sa kanilang pinto every month to pay under the table,” he said.

The outspoken Tulfo did not identify the smugglers but he said he will file a resolution, in aid of legislation, to address the issue head on and find out the people or groups behind oil smuggling. (Mindanao Examiner)