MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs filed criminal raps against its brokers and two companies for two shipments that arrived in the country in 2014 and 2017.
Customs broker Mary Faith Miro and Leoncio Mangubat, the registered owner of Seven Myth Marketing are facing large-scale economic smuggling complaints before the Department of Justice.
The case stemmed from last year's discovery of a shipment from China that arrived at the Port of Cebu. Two shipments declared to contain ceramic tiles arrived on November 27 and 29, respectively.
However, the BOC on Dec. 7, 2017, upon receiving information, conducted a physical examination of the shipments. It was found out that 14 out of 15 containers were sacks of 50-kilogram rice, instead of ceramic tiles.
"As per estimation, the two shipments contained 2,650 sacks of Sinandomeng Aguila Brand Rice, and 4,500 sacks of Sinandomeng Mayon Brand Rice, respectively, with a total estimated value of P7,152,502.30 and an estimated aggregate amount of duties and taxes of P2,861,001.00," the BOC said.
Miro and Mangubat are facing violation of Section 14000 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Republic Act 10845 or Large Scale Agricultural Smuggling as Economic Sabotage.
The BOC also filed complaints against Fabian Go, owner of Grandstar Premiere Sports Corp., and Norinel Quezana, a customs broker, due to the undervaluation of Vespa scooters in a shipment in 2014.
On Jan. 22, 2014, a shipment containing 112 Vespa Scooters arrived at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone consigned to Go.
The BOC, upon examination, found out that "the declared value of the subject shipment was considerably lower compared to other identical units."
"When referred to the Import Assessment Service, it was discovered that while declared value was P3,647,770.00, the actual value thereof was P28,297,167.46," the BOC added, posting an 87 percent discrepancy in amount.
The Bureau filed a violation of Section 2503 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines for gross undervaluation of the goods against Go and Quezana.
Asked on why the case took years to be filed against Go and Quezana, Customs chief Isidro Lapeña in a press conference explained that before a forfeiture, the shipment "went through a process."
"Unfortunately, the process went that long," Lapeña also said, adding that the BOC is now in the process of shortening forfeiture process of goods.
The Customs chief said that they are still conducting an investigation on other Customs officials and employees over their possible involvement in the said cases.