P200-M impounded rice rotting in Subic bodegas

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Felicito Payumo revealed that 13,000 tons of confiscated imported rice with an estimated value of P200 million are now rotting away in different warehouses here because of the turtle-paced resolution of the smuggling case filed against the importer.

An irate Payumo inspected different warehouses here and saw stockpiles of about 260,000 sacks of rice in deteriorating condition with the grains scattered all over, indicating that rats have been feasting on them.

"We are already bursting with confiscated rice here and it is only being eaten by rats or rotting away and it is important that it be disposed of quickly," he said in a statement, as he called for its immediate disposal through either auction or donation.

The impounded rice, stored in warehouses at the NSD, Boton and naval magazine areas, was part of the alleged smuggled rice aboard MV Hung Seng and MV Nicolas which joint operatives of the Bureau of Customs and the SBMA confiscated a few months ago.

Customs officials, who were present during Payumo’s inspection, said the scheduled auction of the confiscated rice last month was canceled after Customs Commissioner Titus Villanueva issued a directive deferring it.

A few days after, the Court of Appeals issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by rice importer Agriex Co. to prevent the shipment’s immediate disposal.

"If the court will not speed up action on the TRO, this imported rice will just rot here, and later on there will be nothing to talk about," Payumo said.

He said it will be better to donate the rice to villagers in war-torn communities in Mindanao, soldiers, Aetas and other lahar victims in Central Luzon and needy families than to allow it to just go to waste.

"It is really up to the proper authorities but instead of being a feed for rats or rotting away in these warehouses, what is important is to dispose of it soon," Payumo said.

The SBMA, he said, is also running out of warehouse space for confiscated rice.