Two more officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have strongly denied a senator’s accusation that they had been receiving “tara” or bribes from smugglers. Major/General Natalio Ecarma III, deputy commissioner at the BoC, branded as “unfair” and “false” the corruption allegations made by Senator Panfilo Lacson in a privilege speech last year. Deputy Commissioner Edward James Dy Buco also denied Lacson’s allegations against him. “Almost all of us who have been mentioned in the privilege speech have already submitted our counter affidavits. ADVERTISEMENTEcarma and Buco were among those named by Lacson in the list of alleged recipients of payola at the BoC.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 20, 2018 05:14 UTC