MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday said it is processing 15 balikbayan boxes that were declared as abandoned after “unscrupulous deconsolidators and consolidators” failed to process the packages sent by overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

The Department of Migrant Workers is set to sign several documents to ensure that the packages would still be delivered to the intended recipients despite the lapses of companies that were supposed to process its delivery, said Attorney Vincent Philip Maronilla, assistant commissioner and spokesperson of the BOC.

“Inaasahan namin na malalagdaan nila ito ngayon linggo at hopefully bago mag-Pasko, we can start distributing iyong first batch of donated balikbayan boxes sa mga recipient nila,” he said.

“Ipapamigay natin ito sa intended recipient dahil alam naman natin kung paano ito pinagpaguran ng ating mga bayaning OFW para maipadala sa kanilang pamilya,” he said.

“Hindi naman nila kasalanan na may nanloko sa kanila na masasamang loob na nagkunwaring tutulungan sila sa pagnenegosyo nila at ipaparating ang kanilang balikbayan boxes ngunit nag take advantage lang sa mga OFWs,” he added.

The BOC did not give details if cases have been filed against the unscrupulous consolidators and deconsolidators involved in the modus.

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