BOC seizes “smuggled” steel wires from China
Five containers of steel wires believed to be smuggled in from
The X-ray Inspection Project held the shipment and recommended that a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) be issued against the five 20-footer container vans consigned to Hercules Foam Mindanao in
X-ray Inspection Project chief Lourdes Mangaoang made the recommendation to Customs district collector Ricardo Belmonte after her team in
Customs broker Annie Gopo of ABS Customs Brokerage declared the shipment as ungalvanized high carbon wire. However, the x-ray team found out that it is actually ungalvanized steel wire.
Mangaoang said because of the misdeclaration, the broker only paid P368,254 as indicated in the Import Entry and Internal Revenue Declaration instead of paying P1.2 million duties and taxes to the government because it costs at least P6 million.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which reported that the shipment was actually ungalvanized steel, assessed the shipment’s value at $1,200 per metric ton and not $353 as declared.
Deputy Collector Edward Dy Buco yesterday said she already prepared the WSD but the collector has not signed it yet. Instead, the matter was referred to the Value Reference and Classification Committee for further evaluation before Belmonte would finally act on the recommendation for the issuance of WSD.
Dy Buco admitted that the broker could be held liable for technical smuggling as soon as it is proven that misdeclaration was made. He added that even the examiner and the appraiser could also be charged if they are found to have connived with to commit the illegal act.
Based on the record, the examiner of the alleged misdeclared and undervalued shipment was Rabel Abella while the appraiser was Fortunato Pestillos. — Fred P. Languido/WAB
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