'Smuggled rice' suspicious: councilor
Monday, March 15, 2010
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A DAVAO City councilor said the consignee’s address indicated on the alleged misdeclared goods is suspicious enough for it to be released by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
"Walay tindahan na kapangalan sa consignee along Quimpo Boulevard. At kung ganyan kalaki ang transaction bakit hinayaang 'Quimpo Boulevard' lang ang nakalagay na address. Diyan pa lang kaduda-duda na (The consignee’s store was nowhere to be found along Quimpo Boulevard. And if the shipment is that big, how come the BOC is satisfied with a general address of just ‘Quimpo Boulevard.’ That is suspicious enough)," Councilor Nilo Abellera said.
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Abellera said he also doubts whether the BOC could locate the so-called consignee, whose presence is needed when the container vans are opened.
"I really do not know how the BOC will address the consignee dahil kung saan naka-address yung laman ng vans, ang nakalagay lang ay 'Quimpo Boulevard'," Abellera said Monday.
Abellera, who chairs the city council’s committee on public safety and peace and order, visited the BOC office upon receiving a complaint from Acquarius Container Yard (ACY) owner Rodolfo Reta over alleged misdeclaration of goods.
He clarified that the council's intervention with the BOC "has nothing to do with the elections."
"We acted on it because it began with the discovery of the cocaine last December. We acted on it being it is a matter of public safety. Ngayon may mga pictures na nagpapakita na ang laman ng vans ay bigas (There are pictures showing that the vans contain rice). That's also a misdeclaration, it's still smuggling. What more kaya ang nangyari before the cocaine was found? I have been told matagal na yan nangyayari mabuti nang nasimulan. We will find out anong laman ng vans," Abellera said.
He said BOC-Port of Davao District Collector Anju Nereo Castigador has agreed to allow the presence of councilors when the 40 vans are opened.
"He said the City Council will be informed accordingly and those councilors who want to see for themselves can look while the vans are being opened," Abellera said.
