MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Bureau of Customs (BOC) over significant data mismatches regarding abandoned and forfeited goods, including a batch of 52 luxury motorcycles valued at nearly ₱1.3 billion.
According to COA’s 2025 report, documents detailing the 52 high-end confiscated motorcycles failed to match between the consolidated records of the Auction and Cargo Disposal Management Division (ACDMD) and the bureau’s Accounting Division.
Although multiple reminders and memoranda have been sent to various ports requiring monthly submissions—even for offices without newly seized or abandoned items—complete compliance remains unachieved.
The BOC explained that the discrepancies stemmed mainly from the overwhelming volume of confiscated assets being managed across the ports. Specifically, COA noted a major disparity showing 4,803 logged entries from the Auction and Cargo Disposal Division (ACDD), compared to only 2,849 entries recorded by both the ACDMD and the Accounting Division.
State auditors warned that these recording flaws expose seized assets to “risks of loss, pilferage, or unauthorized disposal.”
Beyond the motorcycles, the audit body discovered that 874 entries of seized and abandoned articles from multiple ports lacked proper fair value valuations because local ACDD units failed to conduct necessary appraisals. The bureau attributed this lapse to a severe shortage of manpower compounded by the massive influx of confiscated inventory.
Highlighting the urgency for strict tracking, reconciliation, and timely record updates, COA urged the BOC to enforce complete monthly reporting across all ports.
Auditors also recommended conducting immediate appraisals to establish accurate, updated fair values for all unvalued forfeited goods currently under custody.