The new chief of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) has suspended all unserved Letters of Authority and Mission Orders issued before 2 July 2025, in a move to curb potential abuses and enhance transparency within the agency.

Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, in his first official act, issued a memorandum last 2 July halting all unserved LOAs and MOs across the BOC’s Intelligence and Enforcement Groups.

The directive follows complaints from business groups regarding questionable raids and excessive enforcement actions.

Nepomuceno has also ordered all concerned Deputy Commissioners to submit a status report within 24 hours on all LOAs and MOs issued from 1 January to 30 June 2025.

"This directive is a necessary reset," Nepomuceno said. "We must ensure that every enforcement action moving forward is legal, current, and in line with the Bureau’s renewed focus on professionalism, transparency, and institutional accountability.”

The suspension aims to prevent unauthorized or improperly documented operations, which have been a source of irregularities and abuse in the past. The commissioner stressed that this action is not intended to slow down enforcement but to ensure it is conducted properly and within legal boundaries.

The move aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to professionalize government agencies and strengthen anti-smuggling efforts while upholding legal standards.

“Our fight against smuggling and corruption must be anchored in discipline, not discretion,” Nepomuceno said.