Sunday, March 02, 2008 Another Lozada, says Cuenco, is what the vehicle smuggling inquiry needs
IF THERE are people brave enough to expose those behind the smuggling at the Port of Cebu during the hearing of the House committee on good government on March 5, government would have a better chance of stopping the practice.
Rep. Antonio V. Cuenco (Cebu City, south district), principal author of the resolution that provoked the vehicle smuggling inquiry, said it’s obvious that smuggling involves not only the importer but also brokers and Bureau of Customs personnel.
“We need another Jun Lozada to tell it all. Lozada, who testified over the ZTE-NBN deal, is a Bicolano. But I think the Cebuanos are more courageous,” Cuenco said, referring to Rodolfo Lozada Jr., the star witness in the broadband deal being investigated by the Senate.
Cuenco said they will invite Port of Cebu Legal Officer Edward James Dy Buco to brief the committee on the status of the seizure and forfeiture cases and to explain why no smugglers have been prosecuted.
Cuenco said the committee will also invite chief of assessment Carlos Corsiga to explain the procedures in processing the release of imported goods—from the filing of import entry to the examination of shipment and payment of duties and taxes.
Corsiga said he will appear before the committee if invited and speak based on records.
Cuenco will also ask why customs brokers who handle transactions for “questionable shipments” cannot be compelled to identify the consignees.
Former Port of Cebu acting district collector Santiago Maravillas has furnished Cuenco a list of container shipments smuggled into the Port of Cebu including used clothing and high-end luxury vehicles from Singapore, Japan, US and South Korea.
Although consignees or importers were identified—at least nine of them in Cebu—not one of them was charged in court.
“I want to know in the next hearing why the firms and people, including the customs brokers who are reportedly involved in the questionable shipments, are not being investigated and charged in court,” Cuenco said.
He also urged President Arroyo to support his cause to clean up the Port of Cebu of smuggling so the government could collect more revenue. (EOB)
