Business · Philippines Bureau
Customs bureau to lodge complaint against highway patrol officers
The Bureau of Customs said it will file a case with the National Police Commission against PNP-Highway Patrol Group members who allegedly harassed customs personnel during a cigarette destruction operation. Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the bureau will investigate whether its officers acted improperly in the incident.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced plans to lodge a formal complaint with the National Police Commission against members of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) over an alleged confrontation involving customs personnel.
The dispute centered on a customs operation to destroy contraband cigarettes that had been seized in previous enforcement activities. According to the BOC, highway patrol officers accosted customs staff who were conducting the destruction process.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the bureau would conduct a thorough review of the incident to determine whether its personnel bore any responsibility. "If our personnel are in the wrong, then we will find out," Nepomuceno stated, signaling the bureau's commitment to accountability.
The complaint against the highway patrol officers marks an escalation in what appears to be a jurisdictional dispute between the two agencies. The case will be reviewed by the National Police Commission, which oversees the conduct of police personnel nationwide.