Tuesday, January 22, 2008 3 firms, 1 'OFW' face probe for smuggling cars
FOUR consignees of the 19 smuggled vehicles seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu are now under investigation.
The consignees are Asean Mandaue Trading of Mandaue City; PPK Trading of Cabahug St., Opao, Mandaue City; New Era Enterprises of Maguikay, Mandaue City; and Aurora Rustia of Suba-Basbas, Lapu-Lapu City.
Based on records at the Port of Cebu, Asean Mandaue is the consignee of the illegally imported Toyota Sequioa; Rustia, of the Kia Pride and Mercedes Benz; PPK Trading, of the four Mitsubishi Pajeros, three Honda Civics and two Mitsubishi Chariots; and New Era, of the four Pajeros and one Toyota Surf.
Nicomedec Cariño, Port of Cebu chief of staff, said Asean Mandaue, PKK Trading and New Eran are customs-registered importers.
“We will forward their names to the Run After The Smugglers group under the BOC so that appropriate charges will be filed” Cariño said.
No shows
Rustia, on the other hand, is believed to be a returning Filipino resident (balikbayan) because of the balikbayan boxes placed in container vans, which were opened last Jan. 15.
In a BOC press release, Rustia declared the Mercedes Benz and Kia Pride as personal effects to qualify the shipment as “no dollar importation,” an exception of Executive Order 156 granted to returning Filipino workers.
But under this provision, Rustia must present an import permit, proof of one year residency and income of the importer in the country of origin, and at least six months registration prior to importation.
As of yesterday, Cariño said the three registered importers and Rustia had yet to come forward to admit or deny that they own the shipments.
Antonio Villar Jr. of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group said he cannot understand why most smuggled vehicles seized in Metro Manila come from Cebu.
He said they will continue to monitor smuggling activities here, and that will include checking up on various motor sales center and service shops. (EOB)
