Saturday, May 03, 2008 Arroyo visits Customs office anew
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday visited the Bureau of Customs (BOC) office in Manila again to follow-up on the progress of the cases against flour smugglers and some bureau personnel.
With this, Commissioner Napoleon Morales filed new charges against the owner and officers of Rubills International Inc. for the illegal importation of sugar from Singapore worth P11.8 million.
He welcomed the Chief Executive's visit to the bureau, noting that the meeting is the President's hands on style of management.
"She wants a hand on approach on the cases, she wants to personally see the progress on the cases filed against these violators," said Morales.
The said company was earlier charged for the illegal importation of flour to the country worth P31.7 million.
The flour has already been forfeited in favor of the government and will be auctioned off, with the members of the Bakers Association of the Philippines will be given priority in the bidding to help ensure food security in the country.
Meanwhile, the bureau has imposed a one-year suspension without pay against three Customs officers, namely, examiner Jennifer Namuag, principal examiner Mel Rabo and appraiser Gregorio Magat for their alleged involvement in the smuggling activity.
Morales said the President ordered the bureau's legal team to reassess whether a one-year suspension from their posts is enough punishment for the Customs employees.
Likewise, the bureau charged certain Roel Sayson for the illegal importation of 15 sports utility vehicles seized at Cebu Port valued at P3.5 million. The shipment was found to be in violation of Executive Order (EO) 156, banning the importation of used vehicles, and Section 3601 in relation to Section 2530 paragraphs (f) and (l) 3, 4, and 5 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP).
A third case was filed against Eduardo Baretto, president of North Triangle Inc.; Maureen F. Gutierrez, the export/import officer of the firm; and Jocelyn Sendiong, following the respondents' submission of falsified SBMA Certificate of Registration and Tax Exemption for its accreditation as importers.
Morales added that the President ordered the bureau to be more vigilant in its accreditation process to ensure that unscrupulous traders will not be able to transact with the bureau. (FP/Sunnex)
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