Saturday, October 18, 2008 7 Cebu port officials sacked
SEVEN Cebu Port officials were ordered suspended for their alleged involvement in the questionable release of a vessel without paying more than P12 million duties to the government.
Suspended were Alfonso Abarriao, chief of Cebu Customs Police Division (CCPD); Benjamin Capacite, chief of CCPD sub-port of Mactan; customs seaman Marcelo Gaviola; Luis Patriana, chief of Mactan Port Operations Division (POD); Jessica Delgado, Boarding and Clearing officer; POD inspector Vanessa de Madrazo; and customs guard Ismael Abdulcadir.
Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales also ordered the filing of administrative charges of gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the service against the officials.
The case stemmed from the disappearance of M/V Philippine Dream, a floating casino and hotel in Magellan Bay.
Daniel Aquino of the bureau's Internal Inquiry and Prosecution Division (IIPD) said the vessel was "originally imported free of taxes and duties by Philippine Dream Company Inc. in 1994 pursuant to the privileges granted under the Omnibus Investment Code."
When the firm ceased operation in 2004, the Board of Investments terminated all incentives granted to the firm and as a consequence, ordered it to refund the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) the amount of P49,773,630.60 representing tax of its capital equipment, the amount has been settled.
In August 2006, Cebu Port collector Ricardo Belmonte issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the vessel, and informed the BIR regarding customs lien over the vessel in the amount of P12,020,250 representing unpaid customs duties.
However, on June 8, 2008, Belmonte discovered the vessel disappeared. He learned that POD officials allowed the vessel to be towed by tugboat Masindra II and departed to Bangladesh without paying the amount and proper authority. (FP/Sunnex)
