A curious smuggling case at the Cebu International Port

Stand by your people and back them up when they do their job well, and with demonstrable integrity and efficiency. Whether in government or in the private sector, this is a cardinal principle of leadership that not only raises the morale of subordinates but also strengthens their dedication to the service and cements their loyalty to their leader.

Lawyer Lourdes Mangaoang, the head of the Bureau of Customs X-Ray Inspection Project (XIP) is one who will not allow her people to be unjustly maligned or demeaned, especially if they had performed their duty with resoluteness and distinction.

Mangaoang is particularly incensed at accusations that two of her men in Cebu had tried to intercede for the release of container vans that carried smuggled sugar when on record, it was actually they who intercepted and prevented the illegal cargo from being taken out of the Cebu International Port. The two are X-Ray Inspector and Document Verifier Haaron P. Baragona and X-Ray Facility Supervisor Alfredo M. Nagac Jr.

As reflected in official reports, Baragona went to the Cebu port near midnight of November 22 last year to verify a tip he received earlier that evening which said that container vans were being taken out without XIP clearance. He stopped the release of five container vans that were supposed to be delivered to two consignees and declared to carry marble and granite products and plastic parts for eyeglasses.

With this discovery, he called up Nagac and informed him about this. Nagac arrived at the pier a little past midnight and barricaded the lead truck with his jeep.

He joined Baragona in verifying the documents covering the shipments and the two XIP men prevented the release of the shipments by requesting the port personnel to hold the cargo.

Mangaoang received calls and text messages about the incident from Nagac starting at 1 a.m. of November 23. She later instructed him to secure all the containers that were still inside the Customs zone, request an Alert Order over the shipment from District Collector Ronnie Silvestre and thereafter, to subject these containers to x-ray scanning. At 5 o’cloçk that morning, Silvestre instructed Baragona to seize the shipment.

Mangaoang took care to inform Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon of everything that transpired, sending him a text message long before the start of office hours.

Instead of getting the credit for apprehending the smuggled cargo, the two have been virtually accused of complicity in the smuggling attempt. In statements released to local and national media, the Customs Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) claims that two of its men — James Aguilar and Danilo Dalucapas — had “stopped” the shipment from being spirited out. An official of the ESS even stated “his men resisted attempts by two personnel of the X-ray inspection facility in Cebu Customs Zone to let the shipments go.”

While Mangaoang is not really asking that the two X-ray personnel be given appropriate commendation for performing their duty even beyond office hours, she says that they should at least be given credit for protecting the interest of the government.

The irony of the situation is that instead of being commended, the two are now being implicated in this dastardly deed. They had, in fact, been issued a Summons to appear before an investigator named Adonais Y. Rejuso “to shed light on a certain investigation.”

The XIP chief asserts that at the time that Baragona and Nagac were apprehending the illegal cargo, there were no ESS or Customs police at the port.

The two X-ray personnel appear to have gotten unbidden support from a certain Joey Molina, a security guard of the Assault Security Agency assigned at the gate of the Cebu port and therefore, is not a Customs employee.

In an affidavit dated Dec. 6, 2012, Molina related that he started his duty at 10:20 p.m. of Nov. 22; that Baragona arrived at the pier at 11:45 p.m. and prevented the release of five containers. He also said that Nagac arrived at 12:30 a.m. of Nov. 23 and blocked the lead truck with his vehicle; and that Danilo Dalucapas of the ESS arrived only around 4:30 a.m.

As of this writing, Mangaoang has been relieved as head of the XIP and given another assignment as Customs Collector in Cagayan de Oro City.

Customs Commissioner Biazon has some explaining to do.

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At this time when ritzy high-rise buildings are rising faster than one can count up to ten, it seems the most “wanted” man these days is Feng Shui master Andy Tan, who is consulted by architects and builders on where to position construction projects.

Andy, a medical doctor by training (UST College of Medicine) but Feng Shui practitioner for the last two decades, has been consulted by such banks as HSBC, RCBC, and the Rockwell development corporation, among scores of real estate projects, for locations and other requirements that conform to the movement of heavenly bodies.        

The psychic counselor and on occasion, Ghost Relations Officer, wants “to share esoteric knowledge in a scientific manner, allowing me to help and educate the people on the proper application of Feng Shui while also avoiding commercialism.”

Dr. Andy will give a lecture on “Harmony in Design” in this Year of the Water Snake at the LRI Design Plaza at Bel air II, Nicanor Garcia St. (formerly Reposo), Makati, on February 7, from 1:45 to 5 p.m. This is open to businessmen, interior designers, architects, builders and homemakers.

Toni Lo, owner of LRI Design Plaza, exemplifies the firm believer in Dr. Andy’s expertise. The plaza has 40 design houses and includes five art galleries.        

Anyone interested may pre-register at the LRI administration by calling 8951772 or 895-7949.

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Encouraged by the success of the first running event held last year, the Philippine Bible Society and partner institutions will be staging the “May They Be One Bible Run 2” on March 9, 5 a.m. at the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park, Manila.

Colorful tableaus and floats featuring biblical scenes will highlight this year’s run. The Bible Run is designed to help participants learn more about and engage with God’s Word through the scripture verses, biblical information and trivia that will punctuate the racetracks. They will also get to interact and have photo opportunities with the Bible characters that will make the run more fun and exciting even as they help raise funds for the printing of Bibles for under privileged Filipinos.

Last March 3 nearly 6,000 people joined the first Bible running event. Proceeds from the run enabled the Philippine Bible Society to distribute 5,000 Bibles to poor families last year. PBS is hoping to double the number of participants this year and enjoin more Filipinos to support the Bible Cause. Bible Run 2 is being staged in cooperation with the Episcopal Commission for Biblical Apostolate of the Catholic bishops Conference of the Philippines (ECBA-CBCP), the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and other partners.

Registration forms for the Bible Run 2 are available at any PBS Bible House and PCBS Bookstores in Metro Manila.For more information, visit www.bible.org.ph or www.facebook.com/BibliYaman, or contact the PBS Secretariat at 526-7777 local 631.

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