Subic Bay Freeport – Six Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Subic officials were reinstates on August 31 after the conclusion of an investigation on alleged smuggling of refined sugar at the port, said BOC acting Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz.
“I announce the closure and the termination of the investigation conducted on the alleged smuggled importation of refined sugar at the Port of Subic,” Ruiz said in a statement.
The six officials, who were previously transferred to the Office of the Commissioner pending probe results, have been directed to return to office and discharge their respective duties and responsibilities.BOC-Port of Subic District Collector Maritess T. Martin, Deputy Collector for Assessment Maita S. Acevedo, Deputy Collector for Operations Giovannie Ferdinand A. Leynes, Assessment Division Chief Belinda F. Lim, Enforcement and Security Service District Commander Vincent Mark S. Malasmas and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) field supervisor Atty. Justine S. Geli have been ordered to return their post.
The relief of officials after BOC-Subic on August 18 foiled an alleged attempt to smuggle in 140,000 bags or 7,021 tons of imported refine sugar from Thailand with total estimated tax payment valued at P45.623 million.
BOC also detained general cargo ship M/V Bangpakaew, which carried the imported sugar that arrived at Subic port on August 17.
The importer supposedly used a recycled permit or an import permit already used in a previous import allocation. But the probe showed that the clearances covering the shipment were authentic and not recycled as initially alleged.
The BOC said that on August 12, two entries for the shipment of refine sugar from Thailand were filed and tagged under “Yellow Selectivity.”
“The subject entries are covered with the required documentation such as SRA Certificate for Release of Imported Sugar; FDA License to Operate; Certificate of Analysis, FDA Certificate of Product Registration; Bill of Lading; Packing List; ATIGA Form-D; Commercial Invoice and Load Port Survey Report, and “ Verification of the documents showed no irregularities,” the bureau said.
The BOC also added, the shipments were processed in accordance with the existing rules and regulations and that no violation or discrepancy was found.
“The SRA clearance presented on the subject shipments proved authentic, not recycled alleged.
“The investigators found all documents presented were complete and properly complied.
This means that the consignee complies with the regulations set forth by the Philippine National Trade Repository for importation of sugar standards,”
Moreover, the BOC said the statement of BOC- Port of Subic personnel are consistent with corroborated by the certification issued by the SRA.
“Thus, there is no prima facie nor substantial evidence to warrant the filing of administrative charges against the concerned BOC personnel,” the bureau said.
It also noted that the issuance of the Certifications by the SRA “negated all the allegations of sugar smuggling and effectively cleared and/or absolved the BOC-Port of Subic from any irregularities with regard to the processing of the shipments.”