Probe on Imee’s smuggling charges extended

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has extended its investigation on the reported smuggling operations allegedly being protected by its ranking officials.

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales has given the investigating panel from its Intelligence and Enforcement Group (IEG) 15 more days to come up with a list of smugglers to be submitted to the Senate.

The investigating panel was specifically tasked to conduct a probe on the allegation of Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos that Morales is protecting three big-time smugglers through a "super green lane" for their 400 container vans in the Port of Manila.

The IEG, under Deputy Commissioner Celso Templo, is supposed to release the results of the investigation today.

"We cannot just submit a report to the Senate. The investigation is focusing on accreditation of involved companies and their incorporators," Morales said.

Enforcement agencies, he explained, failed to reply to the request of the panel for confirmation of Marcos’ allegation.

"We are still checking on the backgrounds of the people in the list, which include Vicky Toh and her brother Tom. We will not hesitate to file charges against them if we have proof that they were indeed involved in smuggling," Templo explained.

Because of Marcos’ allegations, the Senate has temporarily suspended the approval of the budget of the Department of Finance and the BOC, until a list of smugglers has been produced.

While dealing with the smuggling accusation, Morales said they are also focusing on enhancing the capability of the BOC to collect more revenue for the government.

The Trade Related Technical Assistance Program (TRTAP), which is expected to enhance the capability of local ports for international trade, was launched Monday with the help of the European Union.

With a grant from the EU amounting to 3.5 million euros, the BOC would be equipped with technology that would enhance its services to exporters and importers.

"The TRTAP is particularly relevant at this time as we are focusing on growth through heightened trade competitiveness and greater market access," Morales said.

Some 1.5 million euros would be channeled to the bureau’s trade facilitation activities, which include reduction of average clearance time for inward and outward cargoes, improvement of revenue collection, and enhancement of technical and management capacity of personnel through the BOC academy. — Edu Punay