A RANKING Customs official has reprimanded a Customs examiner, who conducted “unauthorized examination” of the diplomatic pouches consigned to the Japanese Embassy in Manila.
Customs Collector Edgar Macabeo reprimanded Examiner Pompeo Manalo who opened the pouches addressed to the Japanese Embassy in Manila that arrived at the Pair Cargo warehouse on November 30, 2015, despite protests from Japanese Embassy representatives.
The pouches were released on December 2, 2015.
The diplomatic pouches reportedly contained, among others, bottles of sake (Japanese wine) for the welcome reception in honor of Japanese Emperor Akihito and his wife Empress Michiko, who are scheduled to arrive on Tuesday for a five-day state visit to the country.
A diplomatic pouch is any properly identified and sealed package, pouch, bag or other container that is used to transport official correspondence, documents and other articles intended for official use of embassies, consulates, and the offices of public international organizations, among others.
Article 27.3 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations provides that properly designated diplomatic pouches “shall not be opened or detained.”
Aside from the bottles of sake, the diplomatic pouches also reportedly contained several official items for the Japanese Embassy and an album of photographs of President Aquino together with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
It was not immediately learned if the Japanese Embassy has lodged a formal protest regarding the incident but Customs sources said the Embassy was very disappointed about the unwarranted examination of its cargo.
The sentiment was reportedly expressed in a text message sent to the office of Customs Commissioner Albert D. Lina.
“This is the first time that it happened to them so the Embassy was very disappointed,” news reports said.
Airport sources said a Japanese Embassy staff member who was present during the incident reportedly tried to dissuade Manalo from opening the pouches as these were already covered by a certificate from the Department of Foreign Affairs and other documentation needed for the release.
Emperor Akihito, 82, is visiting the country to view the World War II memorials. He has made honoring Japanese and non-Japanese who died in the conflict a touchstone of his near three-decade reign—known as Heisei or achieving peace.
1 comment
If diplomatic pouches are opened, poor senders of balikbayan boxes, their gifts are not safe anymore from the sticky fingers of customs examiners.