Estrada pal used ‘spurious’ TCCs, probers say

Filipino-Chinese Lucio Co, an alleged crony of ousted President Joseph Estrada, used "spurious" tax credit certificates (TCCs) issued by the government in his numerous alleged smuggling activities, Customs probers told the Department of Justice yesterday.

"According to the (Customs probers), Co used spurious TCCs. It would appear that (Co’s) Puregold is one of the enterprises involved (in the smuggling)," senior state prosecutor Leo Dacera III told reporters.

However, Dacera said they have no concrete list and evidence yet.

Dacera heads the task force investigating the alleged smuggling activities of three Estrada associates, including Co, who owns Puregold Enterprises, a supplier of duty-free stores, and Guia Gomez, one of Estrada’s mistresses.

Dacera, however, could not say how much the TCCs which Co used, amounted to.

TCCs are normally issued to oil, garment and electronics firms. Importers can apply with the Department of Finance for a tax refund or tax exemption, but they should comply with requirements before their TCCs are approved.

Dacera said Customs probers told him and Justice Undersecretary-designate Manuel Teehankee that they have the documents on the importations.

"The Customs people have assured us that the documents are intact. But the goods are consumables and they have already been taken out," he said, adding that they might be able to discover "undervaluations and misdeclarations."

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez designated Dacera to head the smuggling probe amid reports that Co and two other Estrada cronies have allegedly been sneaking food items like sugar and rice and electronics, into the country.

"But we still have to check (these reports)," Perez said.

When Deputy Director General Panfilo Lacson still headed the Philippine National Police, he said he had long wanted to arrest Co but he could not because he (Co) was a very close friend of Estrada.

Lacson added though there was no concrete evidence yet against Co.

During the impeachment trial against Estrada, former Finance Secretary Edgardo Espiritu, a prosecution witness, revealed that he had seen certain smugglers at Malacañang, but he refused to name them.