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Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Unclaimed van yields brand new cars, tires
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- A container van left unclaimed for three months now was found to have contained three vehicles and several used and brand new tires.
The container van, held by the Bureau of Customs late last year, was forcibly opened Monday at the Sasa Wharf by the police's Anti-Smuggling Task Group headed by Police Director Edgardo Doromal.
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No one came forward to claim the van after questions were raised about its real content three months ago.
Based on the inward foreign manifest, the van was supposed to contain used truck parts. It was consigned to A2Z Traders.
Doromal said that in this case, it was clear that the contents of the van were not correctly declared. This, he added, is in violation of Section 2503 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.
Macabantug Mandangan, Bureau of Customs Southern Mindanao deputy collector for assessment, said after the inventory that they would assess the value of the items for auction.
Asked if they would file charges against the consignee, Mandangan said while they would want to, they have no sufficient evidence against A2Z Traders. He said the consignee must first make a claim on the items.
"Only when they formally claim the questioned items will we have enough evidence to charge them," Mandangan said.
Mandangan, however, said they are now coordinating with their intelligence division to determine the identities of the consignee. Reports reaching Sun.Star said a nephew of a police officer from the south owns A2Z.
The 40-foot container van was seized by customs on November 14, 2006. Under the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, as amended, forfeiture proceedings in favor of the government can be initiated by customs if a shipment is not claimed by the consignee within 30 days from the time it was put on hold. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (February 13, 2007 issue)
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