BOC probes 16 workers over missing containers

MANILA, Philippines - Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Angelito Alvarez yesterday ordered the transfer of 16 officials and workers from different ports pending an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of 1,601 shipping containers that were supposed to be shipped from Manila to Batangas.

He signed a two-page order transferring certain officials and employees from the Manila International Container Port (MICP), Port of Manila (POM), Port of Batangas (POB) and the Port of Davao (POD) to the BOC’s investigation division.

The shipping containers, which came in from January to May at the MICP and POM, were reportedly consigned to LCN Trading, Sea Eagle Trading, and Moncelian Enterprise. These were loaded with P2 billion worth of taxable items such as plastic resins, household goods, and textiles, all for re-export.

Of the 1,910 containers only 309 reached their final destination, the POB. The rest remain missing.

According to the order, those relieved from the MICP are acting deputy collector for operations Ramon Hernandez Jr.; acting piers and inspection division chief Raymund Cabigon; customs operations officer Otto Panondiongan; and security guards Samsodin Dianalan, Emerlita Garcia and Gil Senen Gamil.

POM acting deputy collector for operations Jose Tabanda; piers and inspection division chief Gerardo Macatangay; wharfingers Pandi Hadji Nasser and Edgardo Habacon; security guard Alfonso Reyes; and messenger Eduardo Alberto were also transferred.

Port operations division chief Felix Embasado, acting port utilization Nelson Chavez, and acting warehouseman Romarico Tumbaga were removed from the POB.

Only Reynaldo Avelino, acting chief of the law division, was relieved from the POD.