BOC to probe release of sodium cyanide

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – A team has been formed to investigate the alleged unauthorized release of seven shipping containers of sodium cyanide from a port in Misamis Oriental.

Alvin Enciso, intelligence officer of the Bureau of Customs-Northern Mindanao Region, said the team led by lawyer Leonardo Peralta, chief of the BOC-intelligence group investigation division, was expected to arrive this week for the probe.

BOC deputy commissioner Jessie Dellosa formed the task force after receiving Enciso’s report about the disappearance of the shipping containers from the Mindanao International Container Terminal Services Inc. (MICTSI) in Tagoloan.

Enciso said the probe would include MICTSI and BOC personnel.

The shipment was consigned to Acestar International Service Corp. in Port Area, Manila.

However, the consignee’s name was reportedly changed from Acestar to Greenstone Resources Corp. in Tubod, Surigao del Norte.

“Deputy Commissioner Dellosa is sending a team of investigators to find out how the seven containers were illegally released and who were behind the release,” he said.

Enciso said the BOC was tracking down the shipment, which was reportedly released to Greenstone in three batches on Nov. 11, 19 and 29.

He said the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) has not issued a permit to Acestar for the import of sodium cyanide.

Greenstone presented a permit dated April 21, supposedly issued by the EMB-Caraga, which the BOC official suspected to be recycled.

Enciso said importers could seek to change the consignee and the bill of lading of the shipment, but no such thing happened in the case of the seven shipping containers.

Customs Region 10 collector Ruby Claudia Alameda has asked the signatories to explain why they released the shipment despite having questionable documents and alert order. – With Evelyn Macairan