4 Cebu port execs relieved over release of 4 cars

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales ordered yesterday the relief of at least four Cebu port officials for the release of four smuggled luxury vehicles earlier forfeited in favor of the government.

Morales also ordered Jairus Paguntalan, director of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), to investigate reports that Customs officials and employees allegedly conspired for the release of the seized vehicles.

"Please look into this. We should relieve those who are involved pending investigation. Submit feedback within five days," Morales said in a letter to Paguntalan.

Customs officials, however, refused to identify the Cebu port officials, saying they have to gather more evidence against them.

Bureau of Customs records showed that the four used vehicles — a Mitsubishi Pajero Exceed, Mitsubishi Delica Sports and two Nissan Terranos — arrived at the Cebu port from Japan last March 4 aboard the vessel New Confidence V.

Morales said Customs officials seized all four vehicles after they were misdeclared as used truck replacement parts.

But despite the forfeiture, the vehicles were released last Oct. 11 through spurious documents reportedly signed by some Customs officials.

Joint operatives of the CIIS and Enforcement and Security Service managed to recover only two of the vehicles, the Pajero and Delica, the following day from a certain Jose Oredina, a businessman who reportedly bought the vehicles for P800,000, in Barangay Soong, Lapu-Lapu City.

Paguntalan said the bureau’s Internal Inquiry and Prosecution Division is conducting a parallel investigation.

Efforts are still ongoing to recover the two other vehicles, he said.