The Bureau of Customs (BOC) will file large-scale estafa charges against several cargo companies accused of abandoning tens of thousands of balikbayan boxes sent by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said Saturday.

In an interview on DZRH’s Special on Saturday, Nepomuceno said the cases, to be filed in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), stem from the failure of at least 11 firms to deliver more than 42,000 balikbayan boxes despite collecting millions of pesos in payments from OFWs.

“Sasampahan pa namin 'yan [ng kaso] kasama ng NBI. Kasama ko ang NBI, sasampahan pa namin ng large-scale estafa yung mga kumpanya na yan,” Nepomuceno said.

He said OFWs paid around $100, or roughly 5,000 pesos, per shipment, totaling an estimated 330 million pesos. Of the total number of boxes, about 36,000 were handled by a single firm, Makati Cargo Express, which has already been charged.

Nepomuceno said some of the companies misled customers by claiming shipments were “pending in the BOC,” deflecting blame onto the agency.

However, investigations showed that the firms and their local partners failed to settle customs duties, port charges, shipping costs, and other fees, resulting in the abandonment of container vans holding the boxes.

“Itong mga partners nila dito na forwarders or deconsolidators, hindi nagbayad ng buwis, hindi nila binayaran ang mga ports, yung port charges, hindi nila binayaran ang shipping cost, hindi nila binayaran ang Philippine Ports Authority. Wala silang binayaran,” he said.

“Inabandona nila yung mga containers na naglalaman ng mga boxes. Yan ang mahigit dalawa, tatlong taon yung mga boxes na yan na pinaghirapan ng mga OFWs," he added.

The customs chief emphasized that balikbayan boxes represent more than just goods for OFWs, many of whom spend months or even years preparing them for their families.

“'Yan ay hindi naman pasalubong lang. 'Yan ay simbolo ng kanilang pagmamalasakit na may relasyon pa sila sa mga pamilya nila sa Pilipinas. Pinaghirapan yan,” he said.

To address the backlog, the BOC coordinated with port operators, including the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), International Container Terminal Services Inc., and Asian Terminals Inc., to waive fees and facilitate the release of the shipments.

Nepomuceno said about 30 million pesos were secured from the national government to fund the delivery of the boxes to their intended recipients.

He said nearly all of the abandoned shipments have now been delivered, with only around 3,000 boxes remaining.

Despite this, Nepomuceno said accountability remains a priority.

He also warned the public against dealing with unverified or “fly-by-night” cargo firms, urging OFWs to choose reputable companies and to check the BOC’s list of blacklisted service providers.

Nepomuceno added that his personal connection to the issue — having a mother who was a former OFW — underscores the importance of protecting overseas workers from fraudulent schemes.

“Naunawaan ko yung naghihintay ka ng box mo ng pasalubong. Pumili na sila yung mga OFWs ng tamang kumpanya,” he said.