Liloan yard yields suspected smuggled items

CEBU, Philippines - Bureau of Customs-Cebu recently raided a yard in Liloan town and confiscated several alleged smuggled goods.

The move was in compliance with the order of BOC Commissioner John Sevilla, who directed six officers to implement Section 2536 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines and seize the items inside the yard if no evidence of payment and duties and taxes is produced.

The order was contained in a letter of authority addressed to Evelyn Quijano Alforque of T.E.S. Enterprises, said to be the owner  of  the lot in Purok Saluang, Sitio Kalubihan, Yati, Liloan where the assorted items were found.

BOC-Cebu District Collector Rolando Almadin said Alforque have not shown any document proving she already paid duties and taxes for the used chopped Honda Fit cars, several units of jet ski, speed boats, hand tractors, multicabs, used generator sets and undetermined number of used truck replacement parts found in the yard.

“Apparently, wala’y gipakita nga (nothing was given to show) payment of taxes and duties,” said Atty. Kenneth Kernn Sesante, BOC-Cebu chief of staff.

“Dako kaayo ang lugar unya daghan kaayo ang nakuha (The place was so big and a lot were seized).  Mao nang (That is why) until now, sige pa ang (we still have an ongoing) inventory,” Sesante told The FREEMAN yesterday afternoon.

Based on the “After Operation Report” agents submitted to Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Port of Cebu Officer-in-Charge Arneth Von Carmen Manquiquis, the “smuggled” items were owned by Alforque but allegedly financed by an unidentified Japanese.

The same report stated that a check at the Bureau of Internal Revenue Business Permit Section showed that Alforque was the registered owner of T.E.S. Enterprises.

Section 2536 of the Tariff and Customs Code states that any customs officer, with prior authorization made in writing by the BOC commissioner, may demand evidence of payment of duties and taxes on foreign articles openly offered for sale or kept in storage.

If no such evidence is produced, the concerned articles may be seized and subjected to forfeiture proceedings, provided the owner is given the opportunity to prove that the items are really covered by documents and that payment of duties and taxes was actually made. —/RHM (FREEMAN)