Fishing firm sues NBI, Customs agents

The owner of international fishing firm BSJ Fishing and Trading Inc. (BSJFTI) in Navotas City is suing the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) agents who allegedly conducted a series of illegal raids on the firm’s dockyard and office.

“As a result of the illegal and arbitrary actions of the raiding team, my company now accrued some P15 million in losses,” BSJFTI president Lope Jimenez told The STAR.

Jimenez said he filed multiple criminal charges last Thursday before the office of Malabon first assistant city prosecutor Magno Pablo Jr., against the raiding team led by BOC’s Eric Albano and Irwin Buenaventura of the NBI.

The STAR tried but failed to contact Albano yesterday through his cell phone.

Jimenez said that on Aug. 30, the raiding team, armed with a letter of authority from the BOC, raided his firm’s dockyard at Pier 2 inside the Navotas Fish Port Complex on suspicion that the company is engaged in illegal smuggling of fuel.

“We have already provided them with documents regarding the procurement of our diesel fuel and other petroleum products locally supplied to the company but they still continue to (prevent) our vessels and barges from sailing until today. And they have even posted armed soldiers in strategic areas of our compound and dockyard, ” he said.

Jimenez said the agents towed a water tanker and two oil tankers to the BOC dockyard in Manila, and continues to prevent his workers from delivering rations and fuel to the firms other vessels. He has a total of 116 ships.

“Preventing the delivery of rations and diesel fuel to the BSJ vessels on the high seas placed the boats at high risk of capsizing endangering the lives of the crewmembers, apart from paralyzing our operation,” he said.

On Sept. 2, Jimenez said the BOC and NBI agents, armed with assault rifles, again raided the firm’s office, detained his employees and seized his oil and water tankers.

The next day, at least 60 agents of the BOC and the NBI “forced their way” into the BSJ compound in Barangay Tonsuya, Malabon City and allegedly beat up two of his employees, Jimenez said.

He said the agents arrested employees Edgardo Cervancia and Ereneo Fernandez and charged with direct assault before the Malabon City prosecutor’s office, which immediately dismissed the charge.

 “It is evident that the complainants, who are NBI agents, were not authorized to enter the premises,” Prosecutor Magno Pablo Jr. said, adding that only the BOC agents were authorized to enter the compound. 

Jimenez said Malacañang recognized his company “for its contribution to the country’s economy” and he was even invited by the President to attend a recent meeting with East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta to explore the possibility of expanding the firm’s operations to East Timor.