SIX public servants tagged as involved in “the possible smuggling of 7,021 metric tons of sugar from Thailand at the Subic Port in Zambales” were reinstated after their boss at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said the agency found no irregularities in their processing of sugar shipments.
Acting Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz said last Thursday that the results of the investigation conducted by the Internal Inquiry and Prosecution Division of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) indicated “there was no negligence on the part of the BOC-Port of Subic personnel in the discharge of their duties.”
Among the Port of Subic officials ordered by Ruiz to return to their previous posts were: District Port Collector Maritess T. Martin; Deputy Collector (Assessment) Maita S. Acevedo; Deputy Collector (Operations) Giovanni Ferdinand A. Leynes; Assessment Division Chief Belinda F. Lim; Enforcement and Security Service District Commander Vincent Mark S. Malasmas; and, CIIS Field Supervisor Justin S. Geli, also a lawyer.
In his Office Order dated August 22, Ruiz “temporarily transferred” the officials to the Office of the Commissioner from their current position.
“The order shall take effect immediately and shall last until sooner revoked,” Ruiz said last August 24.
Press Secretary Rose Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles earlier said the BOC averted the possible smuggling of sugar from Thailand “after they learned that the import permit used for the cargo was recycled meaning it was already used for an earlier sugar shipment.” She added that heads might roll at the BOC if evidence shows that any of the bureau’s port personnel are in connivance with smugglers using recycled sugar import permits.
Upon orders of President and concurrent Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the BOC had recently raided warehouses where stocks of sugar were believed being hoarded for profit, in a bid to address the “artificial” shortage and bring down the price of the sweetener.
A week after recalling the six BOC personnel, Ruiz said the clearances from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) that were presented on the 140,000 sacks of imported refined sugar from Thailand that came into the country on August 12 were proven to be “authentic, not recycled as alleged.”
“Clearly, the issuance of the Certifications by the SRA negated all the allegations of sugar smuggling and effectively cleared and/or absolved the BOC-Port of Subic from any irregularities with regard to the processing of the shipments,” Ruiz was quoted in a statement as saying.
Moreover, the Customs chief said there is “no prima facie nor substantial evidence to warrant the filing of administrative charges against the concerned BOC personnel.”
The sugar shipments were exported by Ruamkamlarp Export Co. Ltd and consigned to Oro-Agritade Inc. were lodged by Malou. L. Buerano through E2M ARMS and the same was filed through CCPS Ticketing System and were tagged under Yellow Selectivity.
According to Ruiz, these shipments were covered with the required documentation and were processed in accordance with Customs rules and regulations.
“The investigators found all documents presented were complete and properly complied. This means that the consignee complies with the regulations set forth by the Philippine National Trade Repository for the importation of sugar standards,” he said.