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Sunday, November 14, 2004
Chief: New law to remove shady brokers
COMMISSIONER George Jereos of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has urged customs brokers to help promote trade facilitation without engaging in smuggling activities.
Speaking during the induction of officers and board of directors of the Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. (CCBI) Cebu chapter at the Cebu Grand Convention Friday night, Jereos said brokers play a major and indispensable role in BOC’s success.
Jereos wants to immediately implement Republic Act (RA) 9280 of the Customs Brokerage Service Act of 2004 to get rid of unscrupulous brokerage firms and cargo forwarders.
Virtue
“With this law, we should be guided by virtue and humility and not by corruption,” Jereos said.
CCBI National President Diosdado Santiago said unscrupulous firms engaging in smuggling of all sorts disappear once they are caught, hence, only the goods are placed under seizure proceedings.
But brokers licensed by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) can be held liable because anything they do can be used against them.
Lawyer Jing David, past CCBI national president, said groups with vested interest filed two cases before a Manila court to stop the implementation of the law.
David denied reports that thousands of “per-soneros” (document processors) will lose their jobs once RA 9280 will be implemented because they are needed by licensed customs brokers as processing of import documents can be delegated. It is just like civil engineers hiring draftsmen in building construction.
Smugglers
The Tariff and Customs Code recognizes a corporation if it has two licensed customs brokers. But David said smugglers abused it by organizing a corporation, hire two customs brokers and appoint them as company officers to qualify as customs brokerage firm.
“These unscrupulous or fly-by-night firms can close business anytime they are caught smuggling,” David said.
David said RA 9280 will stop this illegal practice because only customs brokers are authorized to sign documents.
Officers
The new set of CCIB officers are Alfredo Lanticse, president; Edward Cilocilo, executive vice president; Pablo Gusay, vice president for internal affairs; David S. Odilao Jr., vice president for external affairs; Deo-rito Alberca, vice president for professional development; Elmer Bailio, vice president for government affairs; Edgar Premne, secretary; Love Joy Lago, treasurer; Martin Pusta, auditor; Melchor Pet-racorta, PRO; and directors Leonardo Abay-abay, Lucia Caburnay, Alejandro Carin, Bernard Palabon and German Velasco Jr. (EOB)
(November 14, 2004 issue)
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