DOF files raps versus two BOC officials

The Department of Finance (DOF) filed yesterday charges against two officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for the illegal release of 14 high-end luxury vehicles at the Subic Bay Freeport Economic Zone in Olongapo.

In a complaint-affidavit filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, the DOF’s Revenue Integrity Protection Service (DOF-RIPS) named BOC Deputy District Collector Assessment Priscilla Cordova and Chief of Assessment Division Balta-zar Morales as responsible for the illegal release of the smuggled vehicles.

The group said the two officials conspired and cooperated, “via interlocking and mutually dependent criminal acts to maliciously and illegally cause the improper release of the smuggled vehicles without the payment of the lawful duties and taxes.”

DOF-RIPs, the group in charge of conducting lifestyle checks among officials of the DOF, BOC and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), alleged that Cordova and Morales used their position and influence to facilitate the smuggling of the vehicles inside Customs territory.

They were also alleged to provide an atmosphere of protection and impunity for the activities for their subordinates and co-conspirators who were earlier charged by RIPs.

The group earlier charged six Customs officials also for their alleged involvement in the undervaluation of the luxury vehicles of up to 90 percent of their actual value.

In its complaint, the DOF-RIPs asked the Office of the Ombudsman to issue an order directing the filing of appropriate criminal charges against the two respondents. It also asked that an order be issued for the filing of appropriate administrative charges and the preventive suspension of the two officials.

The luxury vehicles, believed to have been smuggled into the country last February, include four BMWs, three Audis, two Hondas, two Cadillac Escalades, two Nissan vehicles and a Chevrolet Corvette.  

The BOC has already forfeited the vehicles in favor of the government for having been brought out of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone without payment of the full amount of duties and taxes.

The vehicles were recovered last March from the premises of the Auto Trend Center along Timog Avenue in Quezon City.

In its complaint, the DOF-RIPs said the vehicles were smuggled out of their holding area in Subic and illegally entered into Philippine Customs Territory by certain Korean nationals and their Filipino cohorts.