Six Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials have been relieved from their posts while an investigation is being conducted into the alleged sugar smuggling in the Port of Subic.
Through an office order on Aug. 22, the six officials were temporarily transferred to the Office of the Commissioner pending the result of the investigation.
Among the relieved officials are:
- Maritess Martin- District Collector
- Maita Acevedo- Deputy Collector for Assessment
- Giovanni Aguillon Leynes- Deputy Collector for Operations
- Belinda Fernando Lim- Chief of Assessment Division
- Vincent Mark Malasmas- Enforcement Security Service Commander
- Justice Roman Silvoza Geli- CIIS Supervisor
It was reported on Aug. 18 that there was an attempted importation of 140,000 bags of sugar from Thailand equivalent to 7,021 metric tons.
According to BOC’s initial investigation, the importation used a recycled permit or a permit that was used in previous sugar allocations.
In the Aug. 24 Palace briefing, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the officials may be permanently removed from their post if proven they have connived with smugglers using recycled sugar import permits. – With reports from Mark Fetalco and Katrina Gracia Consebido-ag
