OPERATIVES of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Northern Mindanao intercepted some 60 bundles of used clothing, commonly known as “Ukay-Ukay,” valuing around P360,000 at the Cagayan de Oro port in barangay Macabalan, Thursday, March 21.
The items were onboard MV Trans Asia 19 and bound for Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
PCG-Northern Mindanao spokesperson ensign Jherich An John Ybañez said personnel of the Coast Guard Station-Misamis Oriental and Marine Environment Protection Unit-Northern Mindanao received an intelligence report from the coast guard Intelligence group that said vessel was loaded with suspicious cargo while they were conducting sewage treatment plant inspection to the vessels.
The team verified the report which yielded positive result.
“Nalaman nga na ang naka-load pala is used clothing which is bawal talaga (we learned that what was loaded inside were used clothing, which is really prohibited),” Ybañez said.
This also prompted the PCG-Northern Mindanao and Bureau of Customs (BOC) to check the legal documents of the shipment and unloaded the items from the vessel.
Authorities found out that the cargoes lack pertinent customs papers and permit to transport.
Ybañez also said efforts have been made to contact the consignee of the shipment but to no avail, he also added that they have found no legal papers and documents for the said shipment.
The customs bureau took custody of the items while all responsible for the shipment will likely face charges for violation of Republic Act 4653 or “An Act to safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation by declaring it a national policy to prohibit the commercial importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags.” (Alwen Saliring)