NBI files extortion raps vs BOC officer

MANILA, Philippines - A Bureau of Customs (BOC) officer, reportedly caught extorting money from a broker Friday, was charged before the Manila prosecutor’s office yesterday morning.

Renato Palgan, a field director of the Manila International Container Port (MICP), was charged before city Prosecutor Francisco Salomon with robbery and illegal possession of firearms as well as violating the anti-graft law and the election-related gun ban, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said. 

The case stemmed from a complaint by licensed customs broker Rose Amory de Luna with the NBI. 

She told the NBI that on Feb. 14, an alert order was issued against her client’s shipping container because its contents were misdeclared.

De Luna said she sent a representative to Palgan to explain that there was reportedly an accidental swapping of the containers’ packing lists. She offered to pay the corresponding duties and taxes for the release of the shipment.

Hard time

Palgan reportedly ignored De Luna’s explanation and ordered the shipment seized. He allegedly told De Luna’s representative that the order was just a “sample” and threatened that she would have a hard time processing the release of her shipments if she refused to give in to his demands.

De Luna said after the incident, there were reported instances when Palgan would demand P2,000 for each container tagged for X-ray inspection or containers that would have to pass through the lanes he supervised.

She told the NBI that she felt she had no choice and agreed to the terms he set.

On March 8, De Luna told the NBI that one of her clients’ containers was placed on hold for verification. This time, Palgan reportedly asked for P40,000 to release the cargo, she said.

De Luna, accompanied by a female NBI agent, went to the MICP to hand over the P40,000. Palgan did not immediately accept the money and told De Luna to give it to his personal secretary.

When Palgan’s personal secretary turned over the marked money to him, the NBI agents introduced themselves to him. When they were about to arrest him, Palgan reportedly barricaded himself in his office. The NBI agents knocked on the door but he did not open, prompting the agents to force the door open.

The agents reported seeing Palgan hiding behind his office table, clutching a bag. They said they subdued him after he allegedly tried to resist arrest.

They recovered the marked money; a 9mm Glock pistol with two magazines and 29 bullets; and a magazine for a .25 caliber pistol with seven bullets, the agents said.

Palgan could not present a gun ban exemption certificate, they added.

The BOC officer is being held at the NBI headquarters in Manila.