Lookout order sought vs 9 BOC officers in smuggling

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs has requested for the issuance of an immigration lookout bulletin order or ILBO against 13 people, including nine BOC officers, who are facing criminal complaints over the alleged smuggling of P17.5 million worth of onions and carrots.

Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno asked Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado to issue the ILBO.

Nepomuceno sought the BI’s assistance in monitoring the international travel of the suspects to ensure that they would be available for the investigation and subsequent proceedings.

Covered by the ILBO request are the owner and representatives of the importer, the licensed customs broker and nine BOC officials and personnel allegedly involved in smuggling.

The cases stemmed from six shipments consigned to Berches Trading that were allegedly misdeclared as “chicken lollipops” but were found to contain 15,029 sacks of onions and 2,164 boxes of carrots.

“We will use every legal measure available to hold accountable all those responsible. Anyone who enables, facilitates or takes part in smuggling will have to answer for it. We will pursue these cases wherever the evidence leads,” Nepomuceno said.

Complaints for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act have been filed against the BOC personnel stationed at Subic port and the other respondents for alleged misdeclaration of agricultural products.

The misdeclared goods also reportedly lacked the mandatory import clearance from the Bureau of Plant Industry.