Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Customs moves vans containing 'smuggled' rice
THE Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) escorted dozens of container vans of imported rice that are the subject of alert orders from the Office of the Bureau of Customs Commissioner, on suspicion that these are smuggled.
Lawyer Rico Rey Holganza, CIIS Cebu chief, said the container vans were temporarily transferred to a sealed warehouse to avoid storage and demurrage fees. These arrived before the Holy Week.
While the CIIS agents escorted and sealed the container vans, Holganza said these are covered by import entry documents filed in behalf of the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC).
The alert order authorizes the government to hold in abeyance the release of a shipment, while agencies verify if the importation was legal.
Under the Tariff and Customs Code, the shipment cannot be released until the customs commissioner lifts the alert order.
Even as the 60 20-foot vans were transferred, another customs official who requested anonymity said that about 130 more container vans expected to arrive this week will be covered by alert orders and verification.
The same official said he wondered why the PITC is importing rice when only the National Food Authority (NFA) is allowed to do so.
A few years ago, the PITC was allowed to serve as the consignee of imported rice from Vietnam but that was under a “barter trade agreement” between the two countries. Philippine fertilizer was exchanged for Vietnamese rice. (EOB)
