Bela Padilla on BOC’s apology: ‘I’m grateful that they took action’

Posted by ReyFort Media

MANILA — Actress Bela Padilla said she raised her concerns over customs charges on an overseas package with Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, after her post on X drew headlines and prompted a response from the Bureau of Customs.

“I love that I had a very good conversation with Commissioner Nepomuceno yesterday. We explained a few things to each other, kasi obviously as a taxpayer and a customer of DHL, I had questions about the charges noong Friday. He was able to explain certain things to me and after that I called DHL again ’cause there were wrong computations pa rin doon sa babayaran,” Padilla told ABS-CBN News.

She added that the charges were absurd and too high — it was close to the actual cost if the package she bought overseas. 

“I’ve also shipped things in London and other places and this is the only country na sobrang taas ng charges — almost half of the amount of my package so, I just want to see where the money was going,” Padilla said.

“Also I got the bill with no breakdown. I wasn’t also sent a letter or an email which is quite unusual. You are entitled to see what you’re paying for.”

After her conversation with Nepomuceno, Padilla said she appreciates the effort and “that he is taking things seriously, whether it’s big case or a small case ‘cause obviously, my parcel naman.. we’re not talking about a big sum of money. “I think more than that I’m thinking what about other people who, you know, don’t have the means to pay right away for those kind of charges,” she said.

The comment section of Padilla’s post was flooded with ire and stories from the public who shared the same sentiment. 

“Everyone was giving their own horror stories. Commisioner Nepomuceno told me he just started in BOC, last July. He’s handling all the previous cases from whoever he took over from. It’s good to know that things are moving and he told me that they took down the online calculator for the time being, because it has to be updated,” she said. “I’m grateful that they took action.” 

The Kapamilya actress told ABS-CBN News that she isn’t the type who would use her social media accounts to complain and air her grievances on things. In fact, in this case, she called the logistics company and BOC without revealing who she was. She used her legal name and not her screen name.

“I don’t really like complaining, especially on social media. That was last resort. I spoke to a DHL representative first. Then I called the BOC hotline, but I was given the runaround for a proper answer. That’s why I tweeted,” she said. (MJ Felipe/ abs-cbn)