Show charity, compassion; don’t just say sorry

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Diocese of Balanga has asked the Bureau of Customs not only to say sorry but show works of charity and compassion to Overseas Filipino Workers.

The Bataan prelate issued the statement after Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina expressed his apologies during a Senate hearing on balikbayan boxes. “With that expression of ‘sorry’ of the BoC chief, we have proven that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People was right in saying that there are no drugs nor smuggled goods in those balikbayan boxes,” Santos said. Santos is head of the CBCP-ECMI.

“What are inside those balikbayan boxes are personal goods, not taxable, but usable and edible things which manifest the love and care of our OFWs for their families,” the bishop said. He said that it was admitted by BoC in the hearing that there was not even a single box with drugs or disassembled motorcycle parts.

This showed that our OFWs are honest and truly, heroes. They will never send something that will make their loved ones suffer,” Santos said. He claimed that government is not taking good care of OFWs and meddling on their gifts for their loved ones is disheartening and further shows lack of concern for the OFWs.

“Focus instead on freeports and open those warehouses and sealed container vans where commodities inside are taxable. There is no Ferrari or Porsche inside balikbayan boxes,” Santos said.