An Act Instituting Reforms In The Bureau Of Customs, Increasing Penalties For Smuggling And For Other Purposes, Thereby Amending Presidential Decree No. 1464, Otherwise Known As The Tariff And Customs Code Of The Philippines, As Amended (“Anti-Smuggling Act”)

• The bill increases penalties on smuggling to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if the amount of goods smuggled into the country exceeds P1 million, plus a fine in an amount equal to the appraised value plus 50% thereof. Graduated penalties are also imposed depending on the value of the goods illegally imported.
• Empowers the Commission on Audit (COA) to ensure transparency and accountability in the BOC by conducting a post-entry audit on the operational processes, collection and financial reporting, fiscal and personnel performance, system efficiency, internal control, information and communication flow, and fraudulent and illegal practices upon the recommendation of the Bureau or petition duly made by the local industry;
• The COA is also given the authority to issue subpoenas duces tecum and ad testificandum or require the production of documents and require Bureau personnel to respond to its inquiries;
• Includes an updated list of acts that constitute smuggling and expanded the definition of technical smuggling;
• Includes an array of new stringent requirements for surety companies and bonded warehouses doing business in the BOC, as well as the creation of a valuation library which is to be updated at all times and be made available for public viewing.

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STATUS:

• Submitted by the Committee on WAYS AND MEANS per Committee Report No. 264, recommending that it be substituted by Senate Bill No. 2968 on September 28, 2015

• Substituted by Senate Bill No. 2968 under Committee Report No. 264, which became Republic Act No. 10863, signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III on May 30, 2016

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