BOC files smuggling case vs counterfeit goods importer

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC), the government’s second largest revenue agency, filed smuggling charges yesterday against an importer of counterfeit goods.

The BOC slapped a P22.78-million tax evasion charge against Rodolfo Yabut, owner of YSM Star Trading, an importer and broker of fake footwear.

According to the charge sheet, Yabut brought in fake goods contained in two 40-foot containers, which were apprehended by operatives of the BOC’s Enforcement Group under Deputy Commissioner Horacio Suansing Jr.

The agency also filed charges against J-Anne Alfonso-Tabilla and Custodio Mendoza Vestidas Jr., licensed customs brokers of YSM Star Trading.

The respondents allegedly declared the goods as footwear but were found to contain other items such as Band-Aid, plastic Mediplast strips, rice flour, Knorr Sinigang Mix, Ajinomoto, Crispy Fry and Ginisa Mix and Magi Magic Sarap.

Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon said the agency is not tolerating copyright and intellectual rights infringement.

“The filing of these cases is an affirmation of the Philippines’ commitment to the international community that we will not tolerate copyright and intellectual rights infringements in this country,” he said.

Aside from copyright issues, Biazon said fake goods also compromise public safety.

“The highly dangerous effects on consumers of fake food products and medicines should receive increasing attention among policy makers and law enforcers if we are to maintain a healthy environment,” he said.

Biazon said the agency would be stepping up efforts against employees conniving with smugglers.

He also said he has instructed Deputy Commissioner Peter Manzano of the Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG) and concurrent OIC of the Run After The Smugglers (RATS) program to file as soon as possible an amended charge sheet that would include the names of customs employees who may have aided and abetted the illegal activities of YSM Trading.

The agency’s Post Entry Audit Group (PEAG) is also checking all previous importations of YSM Trading to determine if similar schemes were employed in the past.