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Saturday, October 18, 2008
7 port officials suspended
MANILA -- Seven Cebu Port officials were suspended for their alleged involvement in the questionable release of a vessel without paying more than P12 million in duties to the government.
Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales suspended for six months Alfonso Abarriao, chief of the 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.
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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 company ceased operations in 2004, the Board of Investments terminated all incentives granted to the firm. It was ordered to refund the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) P49,773,630.60, representing taxes on its capital equipment.
The vessel was bid out by the BIR at P59 million to Aston PTE Ltd.
In August 2006, Cebu Port Collector Ricardo Belmonte issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the vessel and informed BIR regarding a customs lien over the vessel amounting to P12,020,250, representing unpaid customs duties.
However, last June 8, Belmonte discovered that the vessel was missing. He learned that POD officials allegedly allowed the vessel to be towed by tugboat Masindra II, which departed for Bangladesh without paying the amount and proper authority.
Abarriao told Sun.Star Cebu Friday night that his suspension was unfair. He said he could not be penalized because of command responsibility since he was the one who investigated the incident. (Sunnex/With EOB of Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (October 18, 2008 issue)
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