The Department of Industry (DTI) has issued a warning against buying purportedly stolen balikbayan boxes that were never delivered to their rightful owners in the Philippines.
According to DTI Consumer Protection Group Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles, there are unclaimed balikbayan boxes or parcels ordered online that have not been delivered to the genuine buyers or recipients and are being sold to the public.
Nograles explained that the Bureau of Customs does not permit the release of a balikbayan box unless the associated taxes have been paid.
“If it has been unclaimed for more than one year, it’s considered overstaying. Customs then has the right to auction it off to the public,” she stated in an interview on TeleRadyo Serbisyo.
Nograles also highlighted that some online sellers are selling undelivered “mystery parcels” at low prices.
She cautioned those purchasing balikbayan boxes that were not delivered to their rightful recipients, saying, “Our warning to those dealing with balikbayan boxes is that, of course, there is an owner of the balikbayan box who has not claimed it yet. They will eventually look for it because there is a legitimate recipient.”
Furthermore, she stressed that individuals who buy allegedly stolen balikbayan boxes could face legal consequences. “If the balikbayan box is stolen and you purchase it, you can be charged with anti-fencing. When you buy stolen items, you can be charged with a criminal offense,” the official warned.
Nograles emphasized the importance of verifying the legitimacy of the auctioneer connected to Customs and ensuring that the seller of the “mystery parcel” is the rightful owner of the item.
The DTI also provided a reminder to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) looking for affordable freight forwarders. Nograles said, “The complaints we receive are from the genuine owners whose balikbayan boxes were sold or auctioned off, so they are trying to reclaim them. Our warning to the real owners is not to engage with just any freight forwarder.”
She added, “Usually, these are the ones who send packages abroad at an extremely low cost or below the market rate. That’s the risk – the OFWs’ sent items don’t reach their relatives, and they end up being sold to others.”