Screengrab from Jujeath Nagaowa’s Facebook account
With the Bureau of Customs (BoC) still under fire over the now-aborted random inspection of balikbayan boxes, a Filipina boxer and mixed martial arts fighter expressed disappointment after she was told that she still had to shell out money to get her championship belt.
In a post on her Facebook account, 27-year-old Jujeath Nagaowa said she felt “hurt” when she found out that she needed to pay P5,819 in taxes to get her belt through customs.
Nagaowa won the international light flyweight title of the Women’s International Boxing Association (IBA) against Chinese fighter Lou Yu Jie last June 8. Her championship belt was shipped to her recently.
But instead of receiving accolades from government for bringing honor the country, Nagaowa got a computation from the BoC telling her that her championship belt had a dutiable value of P20, 147.77 of which the customs duty was P3,027.13 and the value added tax was P2,782.
Her post, which has gone viral, showed the BoC computation.
“Yes, it’s true & yes it hurts, that after battling full 10 rounds of boxing for this belt, & after some days of agony waiting for it’s arrival in my place, so much disappointed coz this big thing of mine is also waiting for me for a trade before claiming it,” Nagaowa’s post said.
She said she even had to ask the help of friends to get the belt last July 2.
“Life must go on (& am just lucky enough with friends) so must have to pay for it than losing the only evidence I could have that once in my existence.”
“I gambled my life for a lifetime treasure that others may take over my throne but can’t take this crown.#WIBAIntlChampBelt,” she said.
In an exclusive interview with Radyo Inquirer 990 AM on Thursday, Nagaowa said that the value of her belt was reached after a BoC employee compared it with a championship belt previously valued at $700.
The unnamed employee told her that the $400 value placed on her belt was already discounted, she said.
“Sila po (ang nagdictate ng value.) May nagpadala din daw ng belt din na ang nakalagay din doon na $700. Estimate na yung $400 na yun ah, may discount na yan,” Nagaowa recalled.
(They were the ones who determined the value of the belt. They based it on a championship belt which was previously valued at $700. They told me that the $400 of my belt was already a discounted rate.)
Nagaowa dismantled Lou in a 10 round fight held at the Forum de Macau where she won by unanimous decision.
The boxer, which hails from Benguet, has a record of 13 wins, 15 loss, one draw with eight knockouts. AJH