2 steel importers charged with P31-M smuggling

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) filed charges with the Department of Justice Monday against two firms for allegedly smuggling P31 million worth of steel products into the country.

BOC Commissioner John Phillip Sevilla said they filed charges against officials of Thunder Birds Trading, one of the largest importers of steel in the country, and Skylink Import-Export Inc.

Thunder Birds owner Shine Rapadas Montes and customs brokers Jolly Lareza and Arnel Asuncion were charged for misdeclaring the type and weight of the steel products.

They reportedly misdeclared eight 20-foot shipping containers of steel angle bars as steel angle frames and 12 20-foot shipping containers of cold-rolled steel sheets – used extensively in cars, appliances and office equipment – as steel sheets, clamps, flexible tubing and hinges.

Montes, Lareza and Asuncion face charges of violating the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines for the unlawful importation and fraudulent filing of import documents, the Bureau of Product Standards Law for importing steel bars that did not go through product standard certification and for being an unlicensed Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) holder, and the Revised Penal Code for using falsified documents.

Sevilla said since an earlier case had been filed against Thunder Birds, he will look into the possibility of blacklisting the firm.

Skylink president Junnhel Atun, corporate secretary Donita Mercado, treasurer Jumean Rose Atun, directors Limuelle Montesa and Rogelio Ocampo and customs broker Jarie Mae Juquiana face similar charges for importing eight 20-foot shipping containers of steel angle bars misdeclared as “hardware items (steel frame bar).”

Neither importer obtained the ICC, which means the steel products they imported never went through product testing and certification to ensure that they meet safety and product quality standards, the BOC said.