THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has been requested to deputize members of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) in the fight against smuggling of rice from neighboring countries.
Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar made the request following several reports wherein ZCPO personnel had confiscated smuggled rice only to be released because of jurisdiction issue.
Salazar cited an incident last Friday, October 6, wherein one of the village chiefs together with policemen has confiscated 300 sacks of smuggled rice.
Salazar said the officials of the local BOC office refused to accept the confiscated goods for reasons the policemen were not deputized to do the seizure when she instructed them to bring the contraband to the agency.
She said on Sunday, October 8, the Police Station 6 personnel have also confiscated 200 sacks of smuggled rice.
"I immediately sent message to Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña about this incident," she said.
She lamented that smuggling of rice has become rampant in the city because the local BOC office is not doing its mandated duties the reason why she wanted the local policemen to be deputized. (SunStar Philippines)