THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) two separate complaints of smuggling against several importers and customs brokers.
Charged are executives of Moving Forward Global Trading in Mandaue City, Cebu, namely, Liezl Romero Catingan, Maria Josiegen Arcilla, Jonaliza Pedarce Gabutan, Werren Trespeces, Denes Negro Camay and Amador Visitacion Villalon.
The said respondents are charged for violation of Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016, DENR Administrative Order (AO) No. 1994-28, or the “Interim Guidelines in the Importation of Recyclable Materials Containing Hazardous Substances; and the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal."
The charges against them stemmed from a shipment from Korea that arrived on board the MV Cristina at the Port of Cebu on January 2, 2017.
The said shipment declared to contain 2,500 metric tons of wood chips and 2,500 metric tons of recycled synthetic resins. But upon inspection, the BOC found that the containers were packed with plastic heterogenous materials estimated to be worth P4.87 million.
Likewise charged for the same violation are customs broker Romer Gastador and his other co-conspirators.
The above mentioned individuals are the first batch of respondents charged under BOC's newest program called the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS).
In a separate complaint, the BOC slapped with charges Silver Crown Centennial Marketing Company, its owners, broker, and other co-conspirators who were involved in the illegal shipment of truck components.
The case filed is in relation to a shipment from Korea that arrived on board MV San Aurelio on February 9, 2015 at the Port of Davao.
It was declared as “used replacement parts for light trucks," but after X-ray inspection, the BOC found in the shipment various truck components without the required Certificate of Authority To Import from the Bureau of Import Services.
The BOC said the importers and brokers were charged for violation of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, Department of Trade and Industry Administrative Order No. 8 series of 2003, or the Guidelines for the Mandatory Accreditation of Bus/Truck Rebuilding Centers, Letter of Instruction No. 1086 which prohibits the importation of used tires and Article 172 of the revised Penal Code. (SunStar Philippines)