BOC files smuggling raps vs firm linked to Bangayan

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) filed yesterday smuggling charges against an import firm linked earlier to alleged rice smuggler Davidson Bangayan alias David Tan.

The BOC accused Bold Bidder Marketing and General Merchandise of sneaking into the ports of Manila and Cebu last year rice shipments worth P512 million from Vietnam without necessary import permits.

The bureau alleged that the company did not pay import taxes and duties amounting to some P186.5 million for its over 12.8 million kilos of rice shipments that arrived at the Port of Manila (POM), Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Port of Cebu (POC) from August to November last year.

The collectors of the three port districts filed separate complaints against executives of Bold Bidder reportedly led by Ivy Souza and Customs brokers Denise Kathryn Rosaroso, John Kevin Cisneros, Francis Rudolfh Forneste and Elbert Lusterio.

They were each slapped with charges of 40 counts of violation of Section 3601 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines for the unlawful importation, which carries a maximum punishment of two years’ imprisonment and P5,000 fine per count.

The respondents were also charged with 40 counts of violation of Section 29 of Presidential Decree No. 4 – as amended by PD 1485 – which requires importers to secure permit from the National Food Authority (NFA) for rice shipments.

The second charge carries a maximum punishment of imprisonment for six months and a P4,000 fine per count.

BOC Commissioner John Sevilla said their investigation showed that Bold Bidder was able to secure two import permits from NFA for a maximum allowable import volume of 600 metric tons, but had actually brought in over 12,800 MT or 12.8 million kilograms.

It was found that the company imported over 4.9 million kilograms of rice at the POM, close to 3.7 million kilograms at MICP and 4.3 million kilograms at POC.

“We have to reiterate that the law is very clear – no one can bring in rice without an NFA import permit. The rationale behind securing import permits is not merely based on compliance. It is also meant to ensure that the over 2.4 million farming households and our agricultural industry are not adversely affected by a sudden surge in imported rice,” Sevilla told reporters during the filing of the charges before the Department of Justice which has jurisdiction over the NBI.

The BOC chief also clarified that based on their records, Bangayan or Tan is not the registered owner of Bold Bidder.

“Whatever relation Bangayan has with the company, the bureau does not know. We could not legally establish that and so we are not including him in the charge sheet,” he explained in Filipino.

Last June, the DOJ indicted Bangayan for perjury for lying under oath about his use of David Tan as an alias during a Senate hearing on the rice smuggling issue.