Manila, July 3 -- Newly appointed Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno has ordered the suspension of the implementation of all previously approved but unserved letters of authority (LOAs) and mission orders (MOs).

The LOA authorizes customs officers to demand evidence of payment of duties and taxes on imported goods openly for sale or kept in storage, as provided under Section 224 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

An MO, meanwhile, refers to the written directive or order issued by the Commissioner or other Customs officers authorized in writing by the BOC chief to carry out specific instructions given to a deputized officer.

In a memorandum issued on July 2, Nepomuceno instructed concerned deputy com...