BoC beefs up Cebu anti-crime task force

The Bureau of Customs in the Port of Cebu has signed the memorandum of agreement creating the One Cebu Inter-Agency Interdiction Task Force, the provincial government of Cebu's unified initiative to fight illegal drugs, smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorism.

"I commend Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia's earnest efforts to form a task force, inviting us concerned agencies to sit down and together, make concerted actions to address and bring down these high crimes," BoC-Cebu District Collector Atty. Elvira Cruz said during the signing ceremony on 7 December.

"It really takes the whole community to fight unscrupulous individuals and their network if we want to stop them Cruz said.

For its part, the Port of Cebu has committed to immediately act upon any derogatory information raised by the OC-IAITF against international packages/cargoes for the purpose of conducting joint physical examination.

Headed by the Province of Cebu, the task force is composed of 15 enforcement agencies and non-government organizations, with two groups to monitor the airport and seaports.

While continuing the performance of their mandates, each member-agency shall have a close working relationship with the task force by providing active support through law enforcement operations, detail of personnel and timely exchange of relevant information, the MoA reads.

Aligned with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and under the leadership of Commissioner Yogi Filemon L. Ruiz, the Port of Cebu fully commits to strengthening its border protection measures including anti-drug interdiction efforts through intensified coordination with partner government agencies and stakeholders.