Business · Philippines Bureau
Ombudsman pressures customs bureau on data sharing cooperation
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has called on the Bureau of Customs to demonstrate commitment to sharing information with the anti-corruption office, warning that delays could be used to obstruct investigations. The customs agency said Monday it would comply with all lawful requests for data.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has challenged the Bureau of Customs to make good on pledges to cooperate with his office's investigations, cautioning that reluctance to share data could be employed to derail corruption complaints.
Remulla's statement came as the BOC assured the public that it remains prepared to work with the anti-graft agency on information requests that comply with legal requirements. The exchange underscores ongoing tensions between the two government bodies regarding the extent and speed of customs cooperation in graft probes.
The Ombudsman's remarks suggest frustration with what he characterized as potential deliberate delays in providing necessary records and documents. Such cooperation is crucial for the Ombudsman's Office to effectively investigate allegations involving customs officials and operations.
The BOC's Monday statement qualified its commitment by emphasizing that data sharing would be limited to requests deemed "lawful," leaving open questions about how the agency might interpret which information requests fall within that category.