Seized steel bars released from Subic port

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – Officials of the Bureau of Customs based at the port of Subic here has reportedly released the 5,000-metric tons steel bars from China, despite a seizure order earlier issued by BOC Commissioner Alberto Lina. 

Reports said the shipment was released on Thursday through the recommendation of the Department of Trade Industry (DTI).

The BOC legal department earlier recommended that the alert order be retained until its investigation is completed.

The BOC issued the alert order on April 21 after the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute  (PISI) complained that the shipment, imported by Mannage Resources Trading Corp. from China, had no permit.

The PISI had filed graft charges against DTI Zambales director Leonila Baluyut and Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) director Ann Claire Cabochan for issuing an import clearance for the shipment.

 The BPS said the steel bars have passed quality tests and that it was just doing its job in recommending the issuance of clearance for the shipment.

It denied irregularity in clearing the P95-million shipment.

BOC-Subic officials said it followed the law and ensured the transaction was aboveboard.

The BoC legal service recommended that the shipment be re-tested, noting the first quality testing was not reliable as it was not done without the presence of a local industry experts.