Customs police: Used oil in tanker not smuggled

CEBU - The Customs Police has clarified that a tanker containing used oil owned by the daughter-in-law of Presidential Assistant Felix Guanzon is not smuggled.

Cebu Customs Enforcement and Security Service chief Isidro Estrera said that the sludge will already be released by them after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will issue a permit to transport to Genetron International.

Genetron International is a company engaged in the treatment of waste oil and sludge represented by Guanzon’s daughter-in-law Christianne Sebastian Guanzon.

In a statement given to The Freeman, Christianne who was being referred to as the owner of the sludge held by the Customs Police last October 31 at the Cebu International Port for lack of proper documents, denied that the shipment was smuggled.

Christianne cried foul over the newspaper report that allegedly insinuated that her company is involved in oil smuggling.

According to her, the Bureau of Customs has given them clearance to discharge the sludge from the foreign vessel MV Excellence.

She said that Customs and Coast Guard personnel were even there to monitor the discharge to ensure that it would not spill the waste material and to make sure that everything was done properly in compliance with the law.

Christianne said that the release papers were supposed to be ready last Friday, but because of the holidays it could not be processed immediately.

She said that they were surprised when a newspaper report, allegedly containing false information, came out yesterday. Christianne also denied her father-in-law’s involvement in the shipment.

She likewise denied the report claiming that Presidential Assistant Guanzon has interceded on her behalf to ensure the release of the shipment.

Estrera likewise confirmed Christianne’s claim saying that the presidential assistant never called him to ask for the release of the tanker.

Estrera clarified that the tanker was held by them not because it was smuggled, but due to the absence of the necessary document from the DENR and to determine if the sludge is still taxable.

Estrera said the DENR has already issued a certification to the effect that the sludge is no longer recyclable and that it is no longer necessary for the owner to pay customs duties and taxes.

Meanwhile, presidential assistant Guanzon yesterday wrote a letter to Presidential Management Staff Director General Cerge Remonde to clear his daughter-in-law’s name.

Guanzon said that his daughter-in-law is not been engaged in any illegal activity in the purchase of sludge inside the Cebu Port.

He recommended the full and strict implementation of Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act by giving instruction to the concerned government agencies to implement the law in Central Visayas. — Fred P. Languido/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)