SBMA suspends 2 execs over rice shipment

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has suspended two of its senior deputy administrators implicated in the P500-million imported Indian rice seized by the Bureau of Customs here two weeks ago.

“I will order a document review of all the goods currently stored in the freeport’s warehouses in the light of recent developments,” SBMA chairman and administrator Robert Garcia said.

In a press briefing at the SBMA boardroom yesterday, Garcia said he suspended Stafani Saño, senior deputy administrator for business development, after the latter admitted in a Senate inquiry that he tried to influence a colleague to facilitate the issuance of documents in favor of Amira Foods, owner of the imported rice.

“I was surprised to hear his testimony. He did not disclose that incident to the agency,” Garcia told reporters.

Saño was formally charged with grave misconduct, dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, Garcia said.

News reports quoted Saño as admitting in the Senate inquiry that he called up SBMA senior deputy administrator for port operations Redentor Tuazon, dropping the name of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Tuazon confirmed receiving the call from Saño. He, too, was suspended.

Spurred by the revelation, the SBMA is set to review the documents of all goods stored in the various SBMA warehouses.

“We need to do this to ensure that all are aboveboard,” Garcia said.

He also added that the agency would overhaul its current set-up, prioritizing the business, port operations and regulatory groups.

The STAR sought the side of Saño and Tuazon but both had yet to reply as of press time.

Two other employees, Ivy Alipoon, the account officer whom Saño said accompanied him to a meeting with Amira Foods in Manila, and Raymond Siongco, the department manager in charge of all locators involved in port services, were reassigned pending a formal investigation.