Lacson bares Customs 'tara' list

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday revealed a list of alleged bribe givers or "players" and collectors or bagmen at the Bureau of Customs.

In a privilege speech before the Senate, Lacson said that if the government intends to remain committed to the so-called war on drugs, a "war on corruption" is needed.

The senator noted that former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon was aware of the so-called "Tara" system in the agency before assuming office. Such system has been corrupting the agency for so long.

"From various sources inside and outside the Customs Bureau that I had interacted with over the past two weeks regarding the “Tara” list, we carefully vetted and cross-matched each and every information to come up with an objectively filtered and detailed list of who and how much each office or official in the Bureau collects per container per day," Lacson said in his speech.

List of alleged bribe givers or "players" at the Bureau of Customs:

• Tina Yu
• Jerry Yu
• Manny Santos
• David Tan
• Jude Logarta
• Eric Yap
• Edvic Yap
• Ruben Taguba/Mark Taguba
• Noel Bonvalin
• John Paul Teves
• Gerry Teves
• Joel Teves
• Jan Jan Teves
• Ringo Teves
• George Tan
• Diogenes “Dennis” De Rama
• Henry Tan
• Bim Castillo
• George Wee
• Atty. Veneer Baquiran
• Johnny Sy
• Armando “Burog” Tolentino and Ruel Tolentino
• “Kimberly” Gamboa
• Bobot Sison
• Marty Pimentel of Cebu
• a certain “Eunice” of Davao
• Jun Diamante
• Vic Reyes
• Gerry Yap
• Arnold Saulong
• Hope Arnulfo Saulong
• Boy Sabater
• Nero Andal
• Lea Cruz
• Aying Acuzar / Eduardo Dio
• Rey Tubig
• Ruel Sy
• Frank Wong
• Chi Men
• Jen Yu
• Grace Bisaya
• Arthur Tan
• Charlie Tan of Davao Group
• Anthony Ng

Identified collectors of bagmen:

• Atty. Christopher Bolastig thru Russel and Estrella, and Atty Genefielle Lagmay for the Office of the Commissioner (OCOMM)
• Nanie Koh for Import and Assessment Service (IAS); Also included is a certain Lorna Rosario.
• Joel Pinawin, Ollie Valiente, and Teddy Sagaral for Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS)
• Atty. Larribert Hilario for the Risk Management Office (RMO) /Command Center (COMMCEN)
• A certain “Magic” or Major Salamanca for the Enforcement Group (EG)
• Bien Rubio, Jerry and Diego Santiago for the Intelligence Group (IG)
• Jasmin Obillos for Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG)
• Sia Otto and Roy for Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group
• Bien Rubio, again, for Intellectual Property Rights Division
• Atty. Tom Tagra for Legal Services
• Boy Garcia for Accounts Management Office (AMO)
• Certain Mamadra, Bobadilla and Mamao for Customs Collector in NAIA
• A certain “Hunk” for the Customs Collector in Subic
• Efren Ambagan and a certain Guiao for the Customs Collector in Clark
• Alfred and Daniel Wagwag for the District Collector, Port of Manila (POM)
• Jun Rapa for the Dep. Collector for Operations for POM
• Alex, Atty. Mimi Aldave and Atty. Vener Baquiran for the District Collector, Manila International Container Port (MICP)
• Jayson Calinap for X Ray in MICP
• Agama and Junjun Reyes for X Ray at POM
• For the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) for Manila International Container Port : Ordoña and Bundukin with a certain “Ante” as runner; and
• Lino Arroyo for the Enforcement and Security Service, Port of Manila

Standard tara for each office or division:

• P5,000 to 10,000 for Office of the Commissioner (OCOMM)
• P5,000 to P10,000 for Command Center (COMMCEN)
• P1,000 to P3,000 for the Assessment Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG)
• P1,500 to P3,000 for the Intelligence Group (IG)
• P3,000 to P10,000 for CIIS CENTRAL
• P500 to P1,000 for CIIS Director’s Office
• P1,000 to P3,000 for the Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD)
• P1,000 to P2,000 for the Accounts Management Office (AMO)
• P1,000 to P3,000 for the Import and Assessment Service (IAS)

For Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Port of Manila (POM):

• P9,000 to P15,000 for the Section Heads, Appraisers and Examiners in the Formal Entry Division for both MICP and POM
• P1,000 to P3,000 for the Informal Entry Division for both MICP and POM
• P3,000 each for MICP and POM Collector’s Office
• P500 to P1,000 for CIIS Port for both MICP and POM
• P500 for Enforcement and Security Service for both MICP and POM
• P500 to P1,000 for both MICP and POM
• P200 for the Piers and Inspection Division for both MICP and POM
• P1,000 to P3,000 for the Deputy District Collector of POM
• P1,000 to P1,500 for XRAY

So-called "big players" facilitating a total of 390 to 490 containers per day:

• 100-110 containers – David Tan
• 80-100 containers – Davao Group (Taguba belongs to this group)
• 80-100 containers – Manny Santos
• 80-100 containers – Teves Group
• 50-80 containers – “Kimberly” Gamboa

Recipients of tara or payola at Customs:

• Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon
• Deputy Commissioner Teddy Raval – Intelligence Group (IG)
• Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno -Enforcement Group (EG)
• Deputy Commissioner Gerardo Gambala of the Command Center
• Deputy Commissioner Natalio C. Ecarma III of Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG)
• Deputy Commissioner Edward James Dy Buco of Assessment and Operations Coordination Group (AOCG)
• Director Neil Estrella – Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service [CIIS] (alleged to collect also for the Office of the Commissioner [OCOMM] together with Chris Bolastig)
• Atty. Zsae de Guzman – Chief, Intellectual Property Rights Division
• Atty. Larribert Hilario of Risk Management Office (RMO)
• Joel Pinawin, OIC Chief, Intelligence Division of the BOC (one of the alleged collectors of Director Estrella)
• Director Milo Maestrecampo – Import and Assessment Service (IAS)
• Atty. Grace Malabed, Acting Chief of the Account Management Office (AMO)
• Atty. Alvin H. Ebreo, Director Legal Service under Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG)
• All Section Heads, Appraisers and Examiners in the Formal Entry Division in both the MICP and POM
• Athena Dans of the Informal Entry Division MICP
• All Section Heads, Appraisers and Examiners in the Informal Entry Division in the POM
• MICP & POM Sections 1, 9, 10, & 15 Chief Appraiser and Examiner

District collectors or officers:

• Collector Jet Maronilla of the MICP
• Collector Rhea Gregorio of POM
• Collector Edgar Z. Macabeo of NAIA
• Collector Elvira Cruz of Cebu
• Collector Maritess Martin of Clark
• Collector Mimel Talusan of Subic
• Collector Reynaldo M. Galeno of Batangas
• Deputy Collector Mel Pascual for POM
• (+) Capt. Tikoy Guttierez of Enforcement and Security Service (MICP) (deceased)

According to Lacson, a number of top and middle-level Customs officials and employees has been gathering information and has been contacting his office for the so-called tara list.

"Si Nick Faeldon na lang yata ang hindi nakapag-ambag ng datos na ipapakita ko sa inyo sa mga susunod na sandali," Lacson said.

The senator also expressed disbelief over President Rodrigo Duterte's calm and gentle reaction to the alleged involvement of his people in the agency. The president only recently replaced Faeldon as Customs chief.

Meanwhile, Customs Legal Division chief Alvin Ebreo said he will not dignify the "gossip" expose of Lacson on the "tara" system inside the Customs, according to a report from The STAR.

RELATED: Lapeña replaces Customs chief Faeldon