Wednesday, September 27, 2006 Customs bureau still unsure of raps v. Vietnamese By Ben Serrano Caraga Correspondent
BUTUAN CITY -- The local Bureau of Customs office is in a quandary on what charges it will file against a Vietnamese cargo ship found to be allegedly selling sacks of rice to local residents in Punta Diwata point, Barangay Vinapor, Carmen, Agusan del Norte.
Local National Bureau of Immigration (NBI) agents told Custom officials that the charges of rice smuggling are too weak.
Designated Officer-In-Charge Josefa Villasenor, Customs Operation Officer III of the Bureau of Customs office sub port of Nasipit said at present they are contemplating to file illegal entry charges against M/V Xuan Viet Hai Phong after it issued hold order against the cargo vessel Tuesday.
"The rice smuggling charges according to the NBI are too weak because the sacks found to be sold to local residents had no NFA markings even as residents had already issued certification to the composite team that indeed they were able to buy rice from the ship," Villasenor said.
"The team headed by Bureau of Customs is composed of NBI, PNP Maritime, Coast Guard, Bureau of Immigration. The ship's crew are all Vietnamese. We are asking recommendations and advice from our head office in Manila," Villasenor added.
According to a police report, local police of Carmen, Agusan del Norte, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime and some local Coast Guard intercepted the ship while it was anchoring off shore Punta Diwata point in coastal barangay of Vinapor, Carmen, Agusan del Norte last September 23.
The team responded to reports coming from the area that the ship personnel were selling sacks of rice to local residents.
Authorized
But, the ship's Captain Phan Quang Vinh and Chief Officer Hoang Phong Son claimed the rice they were selling were part of their ration and they even agreed for a barter arrangement that consists of trading rice for native chicken in order to augment their food ration.
The 1985 Finland made cargo ship is owned by Xuang Viet Company Ltd based in Saigon.
It was contracted by the National Food Authority (NFA) to carry 70,000 sacks of rice from Vietnam to Surigao City where the cargoes where unloaded.
Earlier, the PNP Maritime Regional Office here through unit leader SPO3 Proculo Amora said NFA told them that the ship unloaded only 66,300 sacks of rice while Customs said the ship has only a shortage of 663 sacks of rice.
The ship's officials declared the ship is manned by 25 Vietnamese crew and has an over all length of 102.27 meters, its breadth is 14 meters and dead weight of 3,580 (TSI).
Villasenor said the ship was authorized by Marina to travel from Vietnam to Surigao City then to Lunao, Gingoog City near Medina, Misamis Oriental route.
Disgruntled
Last July 12,2002, a Cebu City based cargo vessel M/V Rodeo was also intercepted by authorities in the area carrying 17,000 sacks of smuggled rice from Vietnam.
When it was ordered to dock at the Masao Port in Butuan City it unloaded 595 sacks of rice for inventory before it suddenly disappeared from the port where it was guarded by Butuan City policemen.
It was found out that crew members cut the ropes and slowly left the Masao Port right at the very eyes of watching policemen.
Butuan City cops argued during investigation that the matter of guarding the ship is responsibility of the Port Police, Coast Guard and not them.
All remaining 16,405 sacks of rice, which were not unloaded because M/V Rodeo escaped until now are still unaccounted for.
Later on it was discovered that disgruntled officials who were not allegedly given grease money reported the incident to a Butuan City based radio station allegedly in exchange for goodies so that it will be exposed to the public.
The ship was later found in Legaspi city months later without its cargoes of 16,405 bags of rice.
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