Ombudsman urged to probe BOC executive

CEBU, Philippines - A ranking official of the Bureau of Customs in Cebu was accused of amassing ill-gotten wealth and alleged involvement in the 2004 smuggling of the P3.6 billion worth of pseudo-ephedrine from China.

Hans Ernest Tan Aparice III, a businessman from Subangdaku, Mandaue City, yesterday asked the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas to investigate and file the appropriate criminal and administrative charges against a Customs official, whose name has been withheld by The Freeman until he can officially answer the complainant as he has not yet received his copy.

Aparice, who claimed to be a trucker and an importer, accused the official of having amassed a “sizeable fortune, displaying lavish lifestyle disproportionate to his monthly take home salary.”

He alleged that the official is only receiving a P14,000 monthly salary and it is unthinkable how he could have amassed properties.

The complainant alleged that among the properties are houses and vast agricultural land.

 In his request, Aparice attached pictures of the two houses.

He also alleged that the official owns luxury vehicles.

Aparice claimed he has personal knowledge that some of these properties were registered under the name of official’s siblings allegedly to avoid getting detected by the anti-graft office and other agencies of government mandated to investigate corruption.

Aparice alleged the official has actual beneficial use of these properties because he and his family reportedly actually occupy the mansion and frequent the three-storey building.

Moreover, Aparice also tagged the official of being involved in the smuggling of the 1,800 kilos of pseudo-ephedrine from China in 2004. The shipment was seized at the Cebu International Port on March 5, 2004.

Former Cebu Vice Governor John Gregory Osmeña was linked to the smuggling along with his two foreigner friends Mike Cummings and Dirk Hultz. The official, Aparice alleged, was the connection at the BOC.

He was allegedly present during the meetings of Osmeña with the people involved in the transaction at a hotel in barangay Guadalupe.

The importation was listed in the In-Ward Foreign Manifest as ephedrine, which is not illegal because it is an ingredient of cough syrup, allergies, fever and cold. When the shipment arrived on board a cargo vessel MV Intrra Bhum on March 5, 2004, it was reportedly declared in the import entry as pseudoephedrine.

It was allegedly the official’s office that became the starting point of the entry and some other customs documents relative to the shipment.

When the shipment was seized, the official allegedly eluded investigation by using his influence and buying the silence of the media.

When sought for comment, the official asked that the complainant first be verified if indeed he is a real person.

The official said that one of the houses that he allegedly owns was acquired long before he joined the Bureau of Customs and was acquired through a loan while he doesn’t have any idea about the other.

The agricultural land was also an inheritance, which his family is now developing.

A source said that the complaint could be a mere smear campaign.

The official, however said, that this is part of the hazards of the job. - Fred P. Languido/JMO (THE FREEMAN)