Importers say Customs official, robbery group harassing them

CEBU, Philippines - A group of brokers and importers in Cebu sought the intercession of the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas to stop the alleged harassment and extortion activities perpetrated by a Customs official and the alleged members of the notorious Kuratong Baleleng gang.

The Cebu Importers and Brokers Union, through a letter, asked Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol to take immediate action to stop the alleged harassments of their members.

Attached to the letter complaint was a news item published by a Manila-based weekly tabloid for its September 14 to 20 issue which bannered the alleged operation of the Kuratong Baleleng in the Cebu Port.

The group allegedly operate as “hao-siao” under the supervision of Grace Tan, a personnel of the Enforcement Group from Manila detailed in Cebu.

Tan however denied the complaint saying she is the only EG personnel in Cebu because her job is only to monitor.

“Dili na tuod, wala koy tawo diha,” Tan said in an interview with The FREEMAN last night.

According to the complaint, the group has been “milking” legitimate importers and brokers by issuing alert orders against their shipments claiming to have gathered derogatory reports about it.

However, these alert orders were allegedly just meant as harassment to force them to give money. The group of brokers and importers said they are afraid of this group because members of the notorious robbery group from Ozamiz City allegedly brandish guns while opening container vans and other cargo at the Cebu Internal Port.

The complaint stated that Tan has not been following the “chain of authority and observing proper coordination with the other units in the port, especially the office of Collector Ricardo Belmonte and organic customs police operatives”.

“We appeal therefore that your office would conduct a no-nonsense investigation and fact-finding on the presence of Tan and her pseudo-customs men in the port of Cebu as their actions borders on usurpation, grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct, violations of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines and apparent illegal possession of firearms and ammunition,” the letter read.

Tan said there is no truth to the allegation because she does not issue alert orders. She said alert orders are issued in Manila and her job is only to coordinate with the customs officials in Cebu.

In fact, Tan said she did not bring in operatives from Manila when she was assigned here by Deputy Commissioner Horacio Suansing because her job is only to monitor and observe.

She welcomes the investigation as she is confident that the allegations are all fabricated.

Tan said she does not understand why she is being singled out but said she has an idea who is behind the misinformation. When asked what could be the motive behind this, Tan said “Inggit siguro”. – Fred P. Languido/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)