CEBU CITY — A shipment declared as nothing more than “water purifier tube and bag” turned out to contain thousands of regulated medical devices, triggering a major enforcement action by the Bureau of Customs (BOC)–Port of Cebu.

Under the watch of District Collector Atty. Zsae Carrie C. De Guzman, Customs personnel conducted a 100% physical examination of two 40-foot containers and uncovered 78,720 medical devices with an estimated value of ₱1.041 million.

The contents were anything but water-purification materials.

Inside the shipment were 24,000 peritoneal dialysis (PD) drainage bags, 43,200 sterile disposable intravenous (IV) infusion/administration sets, and 11,520 hemodialysis blood tubing sets, packed in 1,800 cartons.

The discovery immediately raised red flags because the actual goods did not match the shipment’s declared description.

More importantly, the products were identified as regulated medical devices subject to applicable requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

DE GUZMAN MOVES FAST

Collector De Guzman did not let the questionable shipment slip through.

Following examination and evaluation, she issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) on August 24, 2026, covering the shipment for alleged violations of Sections 117 and 1400, in relation to Section 1113(f) and (i) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), together with applicable FDA laws, rules, and regulations governing medical-device importation.

The case now moves into the appropriate seizure and forfeiture proceedings.

For the Port of Cebu, the message is clear: misdeclaration will not be treated as a harmless paperwork error when regulated products are involved.

“The Port of Cebu remains vigilant against misdeclaration and other attempts to circumvent our laws. We will continue to strengthen our border protection measures while ensuring that regulated goods entering the country comply with the necessary requirements,” De Guzman said.

PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE LINE

The case carries added significance because the products involved are intended for use in medical settings.

Improperly declared or non-compliant medical devices can raise serious regulatory and public-safety concerns, making Customs inspection and FDA compliance requirements critical safeguards at the border.

BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno likewise stressed that regulated goods must be properly declared and compliant with Philippine requirements.

“Mahigpit nating binabantayan ang pagpasok ng regulated goods, especially products that may directly affect public health and safety. We will ensure that medical devices entering the country are properly declared and comply with all applicable requirements,” Nepomuceno said.

DE GUZMAN’S CEBU FRONTLINE

The seizure highlights the frontline role of Collector Atty. Zsae Carrie C. De Guzman and the Port of Cebu in stopping questionable shipments before they can enter the domestic market.

A shipment labeled as ordinary “water purifier tube and bag” was subjected to intensive examination—and the inspection exposed what was actually inside the containers.

The operation demonstrates how physical examination, documentation checks and coordination with regulatory requirements can uncover discrepancies that may otherwise escape detection.

The seized shipment remains under BOC custody pending the proper legal proceedings.

As the Customs bureau intensifies its border-protection campaign under Commissioner Nepomuceno, the Cebu operation sends a blunt warning to importers: Declare your goods correctly, comply with regulatory requirements, or face seizure and forfeiture proceedings.

At the Port of Cebu, a questionable declaration is no longer a free pass.

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