BOC suspends all prior LOAs and MOs

Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno has suspended all unserved Letters of Authority (LOAs) and Mission Orders (MOs) issued prior to July 2, 2025.

This directive aims to curb potential abuses, enhance transparency, prevent unauthorized or improperly documented operations, and instill discipline in field operations.

An LOA allows customs officers to verify the payment of duties and taxes on imported goods, while an MO is a written directive for specific tasks.

The suspension follows complaints from business groups regarding questionable raids and excessive enforcement actions.

Deputy Commissioners are required to submit a status report within 24 hours on all LOAs and MOs issued from January 1 to June 30, 2025.

Nepomuceno stated that this action is a "necessary reset" to ensure all enforcement actions are legal and current, not intended to slow down enforcement but to ensure it is conducted properly.