The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has recommended the creation of an interagency body to keep tabs on the inflow of foreign currency into the country and recommend measures to deter the use of these funds for illegal activities.
The Department of Finance (DOF) in a statement yesterday said two groups brought in an estimated $370 million or around P18.74 billion last year.
Rey Leonardo Guerrero, BOC commissioner, in his report to DOF Secretary Carlos Dominguez identified these as the “Rodriguez” and the “Chinese” groups.
Guerrero said foreign currencies brought in by the Rodriguez group through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport amounted to about $200.24 million or around P10.18 billion; while the Chinese group was able to sneak in $167.97 million, equivalent to about P8.54 billion.
He said the BOC learned the couriers of the money are paid between P12,000 and P50,000 per flight who travel almost twice or thrice a week and carry about one to two pieces of luggage.
Guerrero said these are able to escape detection because they are escorted by members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or of the airport police
department at the Manila International Airport Authority.
Guerrero said the bureau is coordinating with the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.
The customs chief said the BOC also informed members of the congress about this concern, “as possible basis of policy changes on the protocol to be observed regarding hand-carried foreign currencies passing through our airports.”
