BOC denies probing Bangayan’s lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - Bureau of Customs (BOC) Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Jessie Dellosa yesterday denied reports that the agency is investigating the lawyer of suspected rice smuggler Davidson Bangayan.

Lawyer Benito Salazar was reportedly being investigated because he allegedly signed as consignee of several shipping containers of imported rice, which were said to have been seized by the BOC.

But Dellosa belied the reports.

“We will not be investigating Attorney Salazar. He is not one of the consignees,” he said.

Salazar is also the lawyer of Silent Royalty Marketing which, according to the Tax Watch ads released by the Department of Finance and the BOC, was the second top rice importer in the country last year.

Silent Royalty Marketing reportedly imported rice worth P983.58 million while it paid P421.54 million in customs duties.

Another client of Salazar is Starcraft International Trading that ranked fourth in rice importation in the Tax Watch ad. The total dutiable value of its imported rice amounted to P550.73 million while it paid P226.883 million as customs duty.