Tinawag ni Bela Padilla ang pansin ng Bureau of Customs nitong nakaraang Sabado, August 16, 2025, dahil sa hindi makatarungang buwis na ipinataw sa kanyang shipment mula sa ibang bansa.
Katakataka raw na halos triple sa normal na babayarang buwis ang sinisingil sa kanya.
Ang kanyang in-order mula sa ibang bansa ay nagkakahalaga lamang ng PHP11,000, pero ang buwis na kanyang babayaran ay pumalo sa PHP4,600.
Halos triple raw ito sa mga dati niyang binabayaran na PHP1,650 gamit ang online calculator ng ahensya.
Buong mensahe ni Bela sa X (dating Twitter): "Hi @CustomsPH good morning! I’m being charged 4,600 php in taxes for a shipment with an 11k php value. I used your online calculator and should only be charged 1,650.
"I usually shop online and get packages with more value so I more or less know when the taxes are too high even without your calculator. Surely, we shouldn’t pay almost half of the value of our item in taxes, no?"
Sumagot sa kanya ang Bureau of Customs kinabukasan, August 17.
Bahagi ng mensaheng natanggap niya: "Please be assured that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is committed to ensuring that duties and taxes are computed correctly in accordance with our laws and regulations.
"Kindly note that our online tax calculator only provides an estimate and does not include the landed cost (freight, insurance, brokerage fees, and other charges). As stated in the calculator's disclaimer, the actual duties and taxes payable may differ from the estimated amount provided."
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BELA PADILLA GRATEFUL TO CUSTOMS CHIEF FOR APOLOGIZING
Sa huling update ni Bela kahapon din, lumabas na hindi pala sa customs ang nagpataas ng babayaran niyang buwis kundi mula sa courier ng kanyang order.
Kaya tatawagan daw niya ang courier para sa panibagong computation ng kanyang babayarang buwis.
Aniya: "Last update: received a call today. Initially, DHL said the computation is from BOC. But today I was informed that DHL still added fees on top of BOC’s computation even if I have free shipping because of what I ordered. Calling DHL tomorrow to have them recompute the charges."
Sabi naman ni Bela sa isa niyang mensahe: "Takeaways: 1. A lot of people are experiencing the same thing. Hundreds of people shared their own parcel stories. 2. Transparency.
"Why are there no breakdowns when we’re being charged fees that go as high as nearly half of our parcels value?
"3. A lot of people don’t read and still love to explain what was already stated in previous posts happy Sunday guys, I hope I finally get my shampoo soon"
Sa isa pang mensahe ni Bela, sinabi niyang tinanggal na ang online calculator ng ahensiya.
Saad pa niya: "…and lastly, I was told that the calculator is being taken down for the time being until it’s updated. happy that someone listened today and UNDERSTOOD that taxpayers expect good service"
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Sa update ni Bela ngayong umaga ng Lunes, August 18, sinabi nitong ang namumuno mismo ng customs ang tumawag at humingi ng dispensa sa kanya.
Napatunayan daw niyang nagkaroon daw ng kaunting pagbabago sa palakad sa ahensiya dahil may kaparehong karanasan siya nito may ilang taon na ang nakaraan.
Maangas daw ang dating ng kanyang nakausap noon sa ahensiya.
Aniya: "One thing I will acknowledge and inform you guys about is that there is a change in staff in BOC.
"A few years ago, when I had the same hiccup with them, someone high up called me (never met this person) and when I said hello, he answered with 'Di mo ba ko kilala?'
"So I said 'no, I don’t know who you are.' he proceeded to mansplain what I already knew."
Pero kakaiba na raw ngayon dahil may respeto ang nakausap niyang tao mula sa BOC.
At walang iba ito kundi si Customs Chief Ariel Nepomuceno.
Pagtatapos ni Bela: "Yesterday, when someone from BOC reached out…he texted first to ask if I could take a call. And then we discussed why I was given the fee I posted. (BTW hidden charges should not be hidden from people paying for it!) and I even asked why consumers are being taxed a total now of 27% for imported goods (this is a congress matter) + additional charges from the shipping companies.
"He promised to look into how shipping companies are pricing our deliveries too.
"Thank you, Mr. Nepumoceno for being so kind in your explanations. We’re all expecting a lot from you because sadly, our experience with BOC in the past hasn’t been great. But I hope to see a change with you in the office now."
Sa comments section, may isa namang netizen ang nagtanong kung nakilala ba ni Bela ang nag-angas sa kanya noon.
Pero hanggang ngayon daw ay hindi pa rin niya ito nakilala.
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