MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III said yesterday that he is set to meet with key officials to discuss the Bureau of Customs' (BOC) plan to conduct random inspections of balikbayan boxes that has drawn complaints from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

He assured the public that there will be safeguards to prevent abuse.

Aquino also asked the people to help the BOC's campaign against smuggling.

The BOC has insisted that the plan to conduct random inspections of balikbayan boxes is an anti-smuggling measure and that it is not aimed at OFWs but at smugglers who exploit the use of such boxes to ship contraband into the country.*PNA

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