BOC seeks dismissal of injunction petition

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs has asked the court to dismiss the petition for injunction filed by a businessman who claimed to have bought the over P300 million worth of suspected smuggled rice shipment from Vietnam to prevent seizure from the government.

Cebu Customs district collector Rolando Almadin is optimistic that the court will rule in government’s favor.

BOC-Cebu legal chief Rico Rey Francis Holganza has questioned the court’s jurisdiction over the case. Holganza said that the matter falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Bureau of Customs.

Regional Trial Court Branch 12 Judge Estella Alma Singco has scheduled a hearing on the petition for injunction on March 12. The BOC issued a warrant of seizure and detention on January 7 against the rice shipment after the consignees failed to present an import permit from the National Food Authority.

But a certain Edgardo Cristobal filed an injunction case against the BOC to prevent the latter from seizing the shipment. Cristobal claimed to have already bought the shipment from Starcraft International Trading Corporation and Silent Royal Marketing.

The rice shipment is contained in 452 container vans with each container has an estimated 520 bags.  (FREEMAN)