PCG orders probe on smuggled 'pleasure yachts'

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo yesterday ordered a thorough probe on the two pleasure yachts that were allegedly smuggled into the country to determine if they were being used in the conduct of illegal activities.

PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Arman Balilo yesterday said they have received instructions from Tamayo to find out how the two vessels were able to enter the country and who are the people who helped facilitate their documents.

“There is a possibility that there could be other similar cases, other vessels smuggled into the country and they might have been used in modus operandi such as in transporting illegal drugs or smuggling of items,” Balilo said.

He said they would also have to coordinate with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), which has already issued a warrant of seizure and detention on the vessels, and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to explain some of the documents that surfaced during the investigation.

Balilo said each pleasure yacht was estimated to be worth as much as P7 million. The yachts were marked “Pleasure Yacht RDB” and “Pleasure Yacht VZR.”

The PCG said it has talked to Restie Bicomong, who said he was hired as a caretaker of the two speedboats, but the PCG strongly believes that he is the owner.

Bicomong’s name appeared in the certificate of ownership issued by the Marina. The name of the company was Bendice Transportation Management Inc. with business address at the Orchid Tower Oriental Gardens building on Chino Roces Avenue in Makati City.

The certificate identified the builder as J.A.L. Inter Island Corp. and stated the boats were only built this year in Navotas City.

But in a letter sent by J.A.L. president Julius Cordero to Tamayo, the shipbuilding firm said “based on our records, we have no knowledge nor any information in constructing the said yachts in our Navotas shipyard. Also, those yachts are unknown to us and we don’t have any dealings whatsoever with the yacht owner.”

Earlier the PCG alleged that the vessels were smuggled in from Florida in the United States. The vessels were confiscated by a joint PCG-BOC team on July 8 at the wharf near a Pasay City mall.

The yachts remain docked near the mall but Balilo said they are hoping that the boats would be transferred to the PCG headquarters for better security.