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Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno ordered the livestreaming of all condemnation activities and destruction of forfeited and abandoned goods
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The BOC said the recording and livestreaming of proceedings on all official platforms reinforce integrity at every stage of condemnation, and promotes operational discipline within BOC
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It also provides the public with verifiable assurance of a transparent and accountable process, the agency said
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The directive applies to all condemnation and destruction activities conducted by any port, collection district, office, unit, or composite team of the BOC
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno has ordered the livestreaming of all condemnation activities and destruction of forfeited and abandoned goods.
The directive to record, live stream, and make available online through official platforms all proceedings is contained in Office of the Commissioner Memo No. 49-2025 signed on September 3. It underscores the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) commitment to fortify the integrity of its operations, the agency said in a statement.
The order applies to all condemnation and destruction activities conducted by any port, collection district, office, unit, or composite team of the BOC, regardless of location, volume, or nature of goods. It extends across the entire chain of procedures, from accreditation, bidding, and awarding of condemnation to the actual destruction at the designated facility.
Memo 49-2025 requires the presence of representatives from BOC’s Intelligence Group and Enforcement Group during all condemnation proceedings. The representatives must certify key details — including the conduct and duration of the activity, the quantity of goods destroyed, and other pertinent information – ensuring that each process is beyond reproach and fully documented.
The BOC said through mandatory documentation and certification by authorized representatives, “the initiative reinforces integrity at every stage of condemnation, promotes operational discipline within the BOC, and provides the public with verifiable assurance of a transparent and accountable process.”
The condemnation committee is mandated to strictly oversee and ensure full compliance with the directive.
All condemnation facilities must submit complete recordings of the activities to BOC’s Public Information and Assistance Division for publication and safekeeping, with all ports instructed to enforce the same practice. The requirement secures accessible records for the public, BOC noted.
Condemnation or destruction is a mode of disposition for shipments that are considered injurious to public health or prohibited under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
Goods subject to condemnation include restricted goods highly dangerous to be kept or handled, goods absolutely prohibited unless the mode of disposition is specifically provided by the CMTA, goods prohibited by law to be released, goods with no commercial value, and goods injurious to public health.
Nepomuceno said the issuance of the memo marks another milestone in the BOC’s institutional transformation.
“This is not just a procedural reform but to assure the public of what kind of agency we must become and aspire toward,” Nepomuceno said.
