Santa Claus banned from Customs bureau premises

The Customs bureau is implementing a no solicitation policy within its premises to protect its staff from annoying individuals asking for gifts, donations or raffle prizes for Christmas parties.

In a memorandum, Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said his order will be implemented starting Dec. 12 (Monday) and until the end of the Christmas season.

The Customs chief said he was also contemplating that violators of the memorandum might be “perpetually banned from entering bureau premises”.

Biazon said it was Customs employees and officials themselves who are burdened and shell out money. He added that personnel are often approached to give donations to Christmas raffles or give presents.

“The concept basically is we would prohibit the premises of the bureau, both airport and seaport, from solicitations of gifts and prizes and the like,” Biazon said.

He believes that the directive would be faithfully followed by the employees since they are the ones who complained about the solicitations inside the bureau. The memorandum would serve as the armor of the employees, to protect them from pesky individuals and organizations that might hound them for tokens and raffle prizes.

“It is the employees who asked (for the issuance of the memorandum) so I am sure they would embrace it… So if someone approaches them and ask for donations, they could show them that there is an existing order issued by the Commissioner,” Biazon said.

Biazon said since they would have no way of knowing if the person who is asking for donations from the employees are legitimate “inaanak” (Godchildren), it would be better if they settle this matter outside.

“We provide an environment in the bureau where gifts, in exchange for influence, is openly received…And this is the practice that we want to break…It would be difficult that if you allow one, how do you prevent the other. So might as well prevent everybody. If they want to exchange gifts, do it outside, that is personal,” he added.

The order would also aid the Aquino administration in its efforts to get rid of corruption.

“If they would approach and ask donations from the Customs employees, it would give them (employees) mortification and justification to earn on the side so that they would have money to buy gifts for their so-called inaanak. But if we could create an environment that they could reject these solicitations, then we would reduce corruption,” he added.

By Joel E. Zurbano