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'May diperensya sa calculator': Customs apologizes to Bela Padilla over import duty discrepancy
'May diperensya sa calculator': Customs apologizes to Bela Padilla over import duty discrepancy
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'May diperensya sa calculator': Customs apologizes to Bela Padilla over import duty discrepancy
by Luwela Amor18 August 2025
Photo courtesy: (on left) Bela Padilla/Instagram & (on right) Bureau of Customs PH/Instagram

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) apologized on Monday to actress Bela Padilla after she complained about being billed almost three times higher than what the agency’s online tax calculator indicated for one of her shipments.

In an exclusive interview on DZRH's Dos Por Dos, BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno has admitted that a glitch in its online tax calculator was to blame for the import duty discrepancy flagged by actress.

"Nagpaumanhin nga po ako sa kanya, ganoon na rin po sa ating mga kababayan, paumanhin na po at talaga mayroon pong diperensiya ‘yung pagcalculate ng calculator, mali po. Kasi mayroong mga items dito sa calculator na kulang po ang mga items dito.

Padilla took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, saying she was charged ₱4,600 in taxes for shipment worth ₱11,000 parcel containing shampoo and skincare. According to her, the BOC’s online calculator only estimated about ₱1,650.

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The actress publicly called out both DHL and the BOC, saying the opaque computation of fees confuses consumers and unfairly burdens online shoppers.

Following her post, BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the agency immediately investigated the matter and reached out to Padilla through her manager.

“Kahit po ako nagtaka, syempre nagalit din po ako agad papaano mangyayari na—hindi ako sa kanya nagalit, nagagalit ako kung bakit mayroong ganon napakalaking deperensya na dapat pagbayaran,” Nepomuceno said.

“Hindi dahil artista siya ‘no, kahit sino po ang magreklamo sa atin ay hinaharap po natin ‘yan,” he added.

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The commissioner explained that Padilla’s computation using the online tool was technically correct but incomplete, as the calculator did not factor in additional charges such as VAT and documentary stamp taxes.

On top of that, Nepomuceno said DHL charged Padilla around ₱800 in shipping-related costs—an amount she argued should have been waived under the courier’s promotional free-shipping offer.

“May diperensya sa pagcalculate sa calculator,” the commissioner admitted, noting that the web application excluded certain mandatory charges.

He added that the BOC has decided to take down the online calculator until it is updated to reflect accurate computations.

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“Maganda po ang intensyon ng calculator, matulungan ang ating kababayan upang alam nila yung kanilang dapat bayaran hindi sila mabobola ng broker o kami ng BOC hindi sila maaabuso ‘yun po ang purpose noon,” Nepomuceno said.

“Ngayong araw na ito ipapatake-down na natin ‘yan [calculator] dapat ‘yan ipa-update na upang talagang makita niyo ‘yan. Calculator nga eh dapat tama ‘yung pagkalkula niyan. So, dapat lahat ng items na dapat isingil, [ay] masingil po ng pamahalaan kasama po ‘yung manggagaling sa private sector kagaya po ng DHL,” he added.

Nepomuceno stressed that the BOC merely implements existing laws on tariffs and taxes, while private courier fees remain outside its control.

He added that Padilla also questioned why she was charged shipping fees despite being entitled to a free delivery promotion from DHL.

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"Entitled pala siya sa libreng pagpapadala kasi ay promotion po ang DHL entitled na raw po siya doon, yung mimsong pinagbilhan niya, so dapat hindi sya dapat magbayad nitong shipment cost," he said.

Nepomuceno clarified, however, that the BOC has no way of knowing such promotional offers since shipping charges are determined by private couriers.

As a solution, he said the bureau would coordinate with shipping companies to ensure transparency in billing and prevent consumers from blaming the BOC for costs imposed by private firms.

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