MANILA, Philippines?Malacañang advised the Bureau of Customs on Wednesday to maintain the status quo and await a final ruling by the Supreme Court on whether it could seize Shell imports over the oil company?s alleged unpaid taxes.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that the the bureau has to await any legal recourse to be taken by Shell following the Court of Tax Appeals ruling, and any final court ruling on the matter.

"I was informed by the secretary of trade and industry that he had spoken with the heads of Shell and they are quite comfortable that the national government is not going to push through with the BOC insisting on asking them to pay P7.3 billion assessment done by the audit,'' Ermita said, referring to Secretary Peter Favila.

"That means, status quo,'' he added.