By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
In coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Bureau of Customs (BOC) inspected nine warehouses in Bocaue and Balagtas, Bulacan on Monday (Dec. 16) following the discovery of an estimated P661 million worth of suspected smuggled rice, which has been alleged to lack proof of payment of the correct duties and taxes owed to the government.
A composite team consisting of personnel from the Manila International Container Port – Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (MICP-CIIS), the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), and the DA – Inspectorate and Enforcement (DAIE), supported by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and barangay officials, conducted the inspections, which yielded approximately 249,500 sacks of imported rice.
This was followed by a dialogue with the rice warehouse owners, which was held on Wednesday (Dec. 18). The session was facilitated by BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio and DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., and attended by members of the House of Representatives, enabling warehouse owners to explain their side and submit documentation to prove the legitimacy of their operations.
During the dialogue, Commissioner Rubio explained that the issuance of Letters of Authority (LOA) is part of the Bureau’s mandate to inspect and visit premises suspected of harboring smuggled goods. The LOA authorizes customs officers to demand evidence of payment of duties and taxes on imported goods openly for sale or kept in storage, as provided under Section 224 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
To mitigate the possible impact of the inspections on the supply and affordability of rice, the BOC, supported by the DA, allowed the warehouse owners to continue their operations under strict oversight. This measure ensures that rice supplies remain uninterrupted and accessible to all Filipinos, particularly during the holiday season.
The warehouse owners were given 15 days to submit proof of correct duty and tax payments. Should they fail to comply, the BOC will enforce appropriate actions as mandated by customs regulations.
This joint effort underscores the BOC and DA’s commitment to regulating and safeguarding the flow of agricultural products into the country. It also aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify measures against agricultural smuggling, following the recent forfeiture and donation of P178 million worth of frozen mackerel on December 14.
-iro
