THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed criminal charges before the Department of Justice against a dozen individuals allegedly involved in two smuggling schemes at the Mindanao Container Terminal-Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corp. (MCT-Phividec).
According to the BOC, the charges were filed on September 7 against consignees, a customs broker and customs employees, for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The BOC said it discovered the schemes—“swing operation” and “Release and File Entry Later” (RFEL)—after the unlawful release of containers from Customs before the filing of entries and payment of corresponding duties and taxes. The BOC added the schemes were applied in connivance with its employees at the Sub-Port of Tagoloan, MCT-Phividec.
Under the swing operation scheme, shipments were released from BOC custody through the use of a Pre-assessment Single Administrative Document (SAD) printout from the Value-Added Service Provider. The document is stamped “Subject for X-ray” or “For transfer to MICT-CCA [Customs Clearance Area]” and the shipment is spirited out from the port. No taxes or duties are paid under this scheme.
Under the RFEL scheme, shipments are immediately released from Customs custody with its corresponding import entry filed several days after the release. This scheme, according to the BOC, allowed the suspects to avoid detection from offices and from the BOC to properly examine a shipment.
Criminal charges were filed against the owner of General Success Merchandise, Sherbet Sabillo Alazas, and its licensed customs broker, Raul Mercado de Leon Jr. The BOC added it filed charges against RP Joegen Lisondra, who is the owner of Melea RPL Enterprises, Meljane B. Mejos, who is named as the owner of Mave Trading and Francis Victor V. Gracias, the owner of FVV Gracias Enterprises.
Others charged were MCT Terminal Manager Jose Mari G. Fernandez and Customs representative Geneva C. Cedeño. The BOC alleged that Cedeño personally facilitated the unlawful release of the containers from customs premises.
Customs employees charged included Liling Comayog, officer in charge of Cargo Control Division of the Sub-Port of Tagoloan, whose name and signature were found on the Pre-Assessment SAD of the shipments. Also charged were BOC police agents Mangigin D. Macawadib, Godofredo T. Cahulogan and Magalona T. Busok, who were on duty at the time of the unlawful release of the containers. Cao D. Malic, the on-duty customs gatekeeper, was also charged, according to the BOC.
In July this year, BOC Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña ordered an investigation to find out how 25 containers were released by customs employees at the MCT without going through the proper protocols.
Of the 25 containers, eight were partially processed while the remaining 17 were not covered by permits, the BOC said.