Customs to file raps over smuggling at Cebu port

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is set to file charges against five private individuals and seven officers of the Port of Cebu who were allegedly behind the smuggling of four luxury vehicles earlier this year.

This, after investigation conducted by the bureau’s Intelligence and Enforcement Group (IEG) showed there were enough evidence to prove that all of them had violated the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP).

Customs Deputy Commissioner Celso Templo, IEG chief, has recommended the filing of criminal charges against the five individuals — Jose Oredina, Richard Montayre, Lederman Marasigan, Feliz Gutang, and Unalee Monares — from whom the smuggled vehicles were recovered.

"We will refer this to the ‘Run After the Smugglers’ program for filing of violation of Section 3602 of the TCCP, or various fraudulent practices against Customs revenue. They should also be held liable for buying the smuggled vehicles under the anti-fencing law," he said.

Templo identified the Customs personnel facing administrative and criminal charges as Alexander Cabagnot, examiner; Haron Baragona, Customs chief wharfinger; Rogelio Manliguez and Conrado Rivera, both wharfingers; Charlito Entendez, gatekeeper; Lt. Reynaldo Lascota, administrative officer of the Cebu Customs police; and lawyer Edward James Dy Buco, chief of the law division.

Records showed that the luxury vehicles were seized last March after they were found to be wrongfully declared as truck replacement parts.

However, the vehicles — a Mitsubishi Pajero Exceed, Mitsubishi Delica Sports and two Nissan Terranos — were released last October to a new consignee. The Customs police later recovered them.

Cebu Customs brokers earlier released an open letter implicating collector Boysie Belmonte in the controversy, alleging several lapses in the anomalous processing of documents for the vehicles’ release from the Port of Cebu’s custody.

They also implicated Belmonte’s chief of staff, Dick Carino, and Cebu deputy collector for assessment Max Reyes.

Templo, however, said Belmonte was not included in the investigation because he was the one who reported the incident to the IEG and provided the details for the investigation.

"He is the whistleblower in this case. So for me, logically speaking, if he were the mastermind, why would he (implicate) himself?" he said.