BOC mulls charges vs LTO ex-chief

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs is considering filing charges against former Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virgie Torres, who was reported by the BOC Intelligence Group as having attempted to facilitate the release of more than 60 containers of sugar last September.

It also filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a smuggling case against two sugar importers who misdeclared their sugar shipment as bitumen and deprived the government of P28.1 million in duties and taxes.

Deputy Commissioner Arturo Lachica said the BOC Intelligence Group informed him Wednesday of its recommendation to file a case against Torres, although this has yet to be forwarded to and reviewed by the Legal Division.

He added that if evidence warrants a case, the BOC would file a complaint before the DOJ using its Run After The Smugglers’ (RATS) Program. 

Aside from Torres, the Intelligence Group also allegedly recommended the filing of charges against businessman Philip Sy and Jennie Munar-Uy, who were said to have facilitated the slipping of imports through Customs.

On the charge filed before the DOJ yesterday, BOC Commissioner Alberto Lina accused the officers of Rainbow Holdings Inc. (RHI), the owner of Trisho General Merchandise and its licensed Customs broker of smuggling sugar from China and Hong Kong this year.

Accused are RHI president and chief executive officer Eunkyoung Son; senior adviser Soon Seong Jeong; executive vice president Diosdado Sebrio Jr.; corporate financial officer Rolando Ambrosio and corporate secretary Kathleen May Uy.

For Trisho, the BOC filed charges against Patricia Manahan Ong and Customs broker Cleth Jay Bacay.

Based on Customs records, the RHI “illegally brought” into the country 21 units of 40-foot containers from Hong Kong to the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from July 29 to Aug. 21 this year. Trisho also brought in one 40-foot container allegedly containing sugar from China and which arrived at the MICP on May 15.