The giant port operator of South Harbor, and several importers and customs brokers are facing smuggling raps for the connivance in the illegal release of 105 containers despite the standing alert order.
The Bureau of Customs through the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) has filed the case before the Department of Justice on April 6 against Asian Terminal Incorporated’s assistant vice-president for South Harbor Operations Steve Realuyo and shift manager Darwin Dalmacio.
The same charges were filed against the owners, officials and customs brokers of Premiere Oak Lumber & Wood Products Corporation, Spectrum Highlands Marketing Corporation, Megaabundancesteel Indent Trading Corporation, Abundancegain Indent Trading Corporation, Paragon Platinum International Trading Corporation and Imperialfoods and Agricultural Prod.
Indicted are the corporate officials and customs brokers of Premiere Oak Lumber & Wood Products Corporation, Spectrum Highlands Marketing Corporation, Megaabundancesteel Indent Trading Corporation, Abundancegain Indent Trading Corporation, Paragon Platinum International Trading Corporation, Imperialfoods and Agricultural Prod.
“The cases were filed in compliance with the directive of Commissioner Isidro S. Lapena to go after those involved in the incident by filing the appropriate charges against them,” said lawyer Balmyrson Valdez, director of Legal Service and executive head of BATAS.
Grounds for indictment
As part of the protocol of the Bureau of Customs, all alerted shipments must be subjected to 100% examination before its release.
“In the case of the 105 containers, the examinations were not conducted as the officers of the six corporations, with the assistance of their customs brokers and ATI all connived to secure the release of the containers from the ATI premises without the necessary examination,” customs chief Lapena said.
All the 105 alerted containers were released by ATI without the required lifting order authorized by the Customs Commissioner.
The illegal withdrawal of the subject containers is a blatant violation of Sections 1401 (Unlawful Importation or Exportation) and Section 1424 (Removing Goods from Customs Custody) of the Republic Act No. 10863 otherwise known as Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.
The total dutiable value of all the shipments amounts to Php 69,675,171.00.
“We will make sure that importers, brokers and arrastre operators who blatantly violated Customs rules and regulations will face legal action and revocation of Customs accreditation. The BOC shall remain vigilant and will continue to carry-on the fight against those who disrespect and disregard the rule of law.
“We will also make sure that after our thorough investigation, those BOC personnel who are proven to be connected to this incident will be charged accordingly. Despite this case filing, our investigation will continue. We are probing deeper. Everyone who is responsible for this shameful act must pay,” Lapeña added.### BOC-PR
