South Harbor, Port Area, Manila
February 6, 2018

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte witnessed the ceremonial condemnation of several smuggled luxury vehicles and joined in the celebration of the 116th founding anniversary of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the South Harbor in Port Area, Manila.

“I know that most of you are honest. Otherwise, we have not collected this huge amount,” said President Duterte as he praised the BOC personnel for having collected an all time historical high of PhP 3.8 billion in daily collection.

The actual yearly collection of the BOC reached PhP 456.91 billion in 2017 which reached 98% of BOC’s 2017 Budget Expenditures and Sources of Financing (BESF) target, compared to the PhP 398.41 billion yearly collection in 2016 which reached only 80% of the 2016 BESF target, and the PhP 367.53 billion yearly collection in 2015 which reached 81% of the 2015 BESF target.

In his speech, the President spoke about the freedom he gave to his Cabinet in leading their respective offices in their own ways, but also emphasized his no tolerance policy against corruption and his willingness to remove from office anybody found guilty of abusing their position.

President Duterte also discussed the reason for his administration’s eagerness in establishing a Federal form of government and consequently rewriting the Constitution, which is to finally appease the decades of unrest of the Moro people for a more unified and peaceful country.

The President continued about how Islamic extremists like ISIS established a foothold in Mindanao due to the continued conflict between the Moro people and a government unwilling to give more autonomy to Muslim Mindanao.

President Duterte reiterated his guarantee to step down as President and not to run for re-election as early as 2020 if Federalism is established as the new form of government before the end of his term.

During the anniversary celebration, nineteen (19) smuggled luxury vehicles at the BOC compound in Manila were destroyed, along with seven (7) more in Davao City and three (3) in Cebu City, in simultaneous ceremonial condemnations.

Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña also joined the President in a presentation of awards to the representatives of the top 10 performing ports in the country.

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