Donate smuggled rice to calamity victims, BOC told

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Malacañang has ordered the Bureau of Customs (BOC) district office here to donate to calamity victims smuggled rice that it has confiscated. 

District collector Segundo Sigmonfreud Barte said the directive was issued during the BOC collectors’ meeting held at Malacañang last week. 

Barte said at least 43,777 sacks of smuggled rice is under the custody of the district. 

He said they did not oppose the Palace directive, but asked to be allowed to auction a portion of the smuggled rice to help defray the cost of the storage of the confiscated grains, among other expenses.

Barte proposed the auction of around 30,000 bags, which is equivalent to P30 million. 

“If the auction will be approved... our problem will be solved,” he said. “We have something to donate to the poor and... also have something for the government.”