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Thursday, January 08, 2004
Seized rice released without papers, ‘on PNP officer’s say-so’
By Garry A. Cabotaje
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
SOME 360 bags of Vietnam rice were allegedly released from the Ouano wharf in Mandaue City, barely an hour after being intercepted by two Maritime policemen past 6 p.m. last Tuesday.
A source said a high-ranking police official ordered the release of the cargo, even if it lacked clearances from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Manila and the National Food Authority (NFA).
The source said that a two-man team, led by Senior Insp. Ranulfo Sebusa, Marig 7 deputy chief, seized the cargo and turned it over to the Mandaue City-based 701st Maritime police office, headed by Senior Insp. Victoriano Adriano.
Ouano wharf is within Adriano’s jurisdiction.
Upon learning about it, the official allegedly called up Adriano by a cellular phone and immediately ordered him to release the confiscated items.
This, even if Adriano tried to reason out that the cargo lacked necessary documents.
Other Maritime policemen reportedly overheard Adriano while he was trying to explain his refusal to release the cargo.
Sun.Star tried to contact the official several times through his mobile phone yesterday afternoon, but to no avail. His office has no phone.
Recycled papers?
When Sun.Star contacted Adriano in his office, he explained the cargo was released after the alleged claimant, a trader with a Chinese family name, presented the import entry and two other documents.
But when the matter reached the attention of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 yesterday, Director Reynaldo Esmeralda immediately ordered NBI 7 Senior Agent Renato Mandaue to visit Adriano’s office in Mandaue City.
Documents obtained by the bureau showed that indeed there was no clearance from the customs commissioner, as well as an NFA transport permit to bring the grains from Manila to Cebu.
“Without these documents, the shipment is considered illegal,” Esmeralda said.
The documents obtained by the NBI 7 were only the import entry, which showed the taxes and duties paid to the government; a packing list; and a signed commercial invoice issued by Sohafarm Import-Export of Omon District, Cantho Province in Vietnam.
According to the packing list, there were 32,760 bags of Vietnamese long grain white rice.
It stated the port of loading as Ho Chi Minh City Port, Vietnam and the port of charge as South Harbor, Manila, Philippines.
But the NBI 7 believes these documents were “recycled” because both the packing list and commercial invoice were dated Aug. 3, 2003 yet.
Investigation
The NBI also noted that the import entry was dated June 6, 2003 and does not match the seized 360 rice bags.
According to the import entry, the cargo consisted of 2,000 metric tons of Vietnamese long grain white rice, worth P11.7 million. A total of P5.8 million was paid in duties.
The document listed a company on F. Gonzales St., Cebu City as the importer.
With this information, Esmeralda said the NBI will conduct a full-blown investigation. He plans to summon the officials involved in the release of the items today.
Initial investigation showed that the 360 bags were loaded onto a six-wheeler cargo truck (GHD-933) driven by a certain Manolito Cañete, when apprehended by the Maritime police.
The NBI said the cargo was released at 7:36 p.m.
(January 8, 2004 issue)
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