The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the Philippines is considering filing a complaint against 10 flight attendants for their alleged unruly behavior. While the BOC has announced that no charges will be filed against the crew members for bringing in 27 kilograms of onions, 10.5 kilograms of lemons, 1 kilogram of strawberries and blueberries, and other undeclared agricultural products from the Middle East as “pasalubong” (gifts), the agency is looking into the behavior of the group.
According to an earlier statement by the BOC, the flight attendants “exhibited unruly behaviors by stomping/stepping and destroying/crushing the said products without permits in public view upon being informed of their violations.” Customs spokesman Arnaldo Dela Torre Jr. clarified that while Presidential Decree No. 1433, also known as the Plant Quarantine Decree of 1978, only provides for the confiscation of agricultural products brought into the country for personal consumption, bringing in such products without the necessary permits and clearance is prohibited.
This announcement follows senators expressing dismay that the flight attendants were being put in hot water for bringing onions to the Philippines as pasalubong, pointing out the supposed double standards that authorities have shown for punishing the airline personnel while letting big-time establishments go free. BOC spokesman Arnaldo dela Torre stated, “The legal action that the BOC and Bureau of Quarantine will take is with regard to the behavior of the crew members.”
