Actress Bela Padilla expressed her gratitude to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) after the agency swiftly acted on her complaint regarding alleged “overcharging” in shipment taxes.
Padilla earlier posted on X (formerly Twitter) that she was billed ₱4,600 in shipment tax for an ₱11,000 parcel containing shampoo and skincare items. She noted that the BOC’s online duty and tax calculator only estimated about ₱1,650.
Hi @CustomsPH good morning! I’m being charged 4,600 php in taxes for a shipment with an 11k php value. I used your online calculator and should only be charged 1,650. I usually shop online and get packages with more value so I more or less know when the taxes are too high even…
— Bela Padilla (@padillabela) August 16, 2025
Following her post, BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno personally called Padilla to explain the charges and address her concerns.
“Thank you, Mr. Nepomuceno, for being so kind in your explanations. We’re all expecting a lot from you,” the actress wrote in a follow-up tweet.
One thing I will acknowledge and inform you guys about is that there is a change in staff in BOC. A few years ago, when I had the same hiccup with them, someone high up called me (never met this person) and when I said hello, he answered with “Di mo ba ko kilala?” So I said “no,…
— Bela Padilla (@padillabela) August 18, 2025
In response, Nepomuceno ordered the temporary removal of the agency’s online duty and tax calculator, citing the need for improvements to prevent similar issues.
“To avoid similar situations in the future, I have directed that the calculator be temporarily removed until enhancements are completed,” he said in a statement.
Padilla, who shared she had also experienced similar problems with the BOC in the past, expressed hope that reforms would finally be implemented.
Meanwhile, in an interview with DZRH Dos Por Dos, Nepomuceno clarified that the agency’s quick response was not because Padilla is a celebrity, but because “anyone who might encounter the same problem should be assisted properly.”
