Senate detains 2 Customs execs, trader

MANILA, Philippines — Two Customs officials and a trader have been detained at the Senate after allegedly lying to the agriculture panel.

At yesterday’s agricultural smuggling inquiry, panel chair Sen. Francis Pangilinan cited in contempt Andrew Calixihan, Customs deputy collector for assessment at the Port of Subic, and Mary Anabelle Gubaton, Customs operations officer III at the same port.

The Senate also detained Erwin Pascual, owner of EPCB Consumer Goods Trading.

Pascual admitted to using his nephew’s name in registering his company, even if the latter was unaware of any brokerage dealings, Pangilinan said.

“He also admits to lending his license,” the senator noted.

Calixihan allegedly misled the panel about three trucks that left the Subic port on June 27, with shipments declared as chicken poppers, but later found to contain onions and mackerel.

Calixihan gave “less than forthright” testimony about the destination of the cargo, which was supposedly headed to a warehouse that did not exist, Pangilinan said. As for Gubaton, truck drivers testified that containers were released without Customs supervision.

Meanwhile, Pangilinan permitted Customs broker Brenda de Sagun, previously cited in contempt, to be temporarily released to gather information about a certain “Mr. Vicente,” who allegedly contracted the importation.

De Sagun and broker Lujin Tenero were cited in contempt two weeks ago for refusing to identify suspects in multimillion-peso smuggling operations in Subic.

The Senate panel will resume the inquiry next week.