Customs to charge 3 firms for alleged smuggling

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BoC) on Thursday said that it will file before the Justice department criminal cases against officers of three firms for engaging in alleged smuggling activities. Firms which will be charged by the BoC's anti-smuggling arm - Run After the Smugglers (RATS) - are: the Hanjo Corporation based in Sta. Mesa, Manila; New River Apparel and Budeac Marketing. They will be charged for misdeclaration and diversion of shipments consisting of fabrics and textiles; laptop computers and used clothing locally known as "Ukay-Ukay". Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said the firm's importation of said articles without intending to pay duties and taxes to the government indicates the wantonness of the perpetrators of smuggling activities. "Obviously, these unscrupulous smugglers are only motivated of the profit they will earn without due regard to health, safety and economic damage the general public may suffer," Morales said. Morales added that they have already suspended the accreditation of the broker and importers of said items as part of the bureau's standard policy. Hanjo Corporation was involved in the unlawful importation of shipments of 192 units of hi-end Lenovo laptops at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last October. The shipments of laptops, which came from Hongkong was declared in its import entry as "Lenovo Laptop Bags" worth U$S10 each, but on inspection, it was found to be containing a laptop worth US$1,440. "The shipment deprived the government of its rightful duties and taxes approximately amounting to P1.343 million. Just imagine the disparity between US$10 and US$ 1, 440," Morales said. Named respondents are Hanjo's officers and directors Elvin Cokai, Benito Sy alias Sy Kui Lam, Maria Isabel Ong Cokai, Anita Cokai, Annabell Yu, See Ging Yee, Irene Yao and Jose Isong, a licensed customs broker. On the other hand, New River Apparel was allegedly involved in the diversion of 573 rolls of fabrics/textiles worth P468, 792 that arrived at the Port of Manila several months ago. The shipments of fabrics were supposedly to be transshipped to the consignee's warehouse in Taytay, Rizal for manufacturing, but were diverted to a warehouse in Meycauayan, Bulacan. Charged were New River Apparel president, Romel Farinas; Rolly Noqueras, operation manager; Gesselle Galletas, corporate secretary; Rezalde del Rosario; Diosdado Sta. Cruz and Agapito Mendez Jr., a customs broker. While Budeac Marketing was charged for the importation of forty-foot container van of used clothing (Ukay-Ukay) worth P800, 831 that came from Korea and arrived at the Port of Cebu. The customs commissioner said the shipment was misdeclared as used household articles, through the used of falsified Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoices and Packing list. Charged on this shipment were Dennis Bustamante, proprietor of Budeac Marketing and three licensed customs brokers namely Farres Fel Roma; Ellen Kristine Gemparo and Emilio Chio. - GMANews.TV