BOC earns P12.4M from hot rice

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs in the Port of Cebu earned P12.4 million from the proceeds of the almost 10,000 bags of seized smuggled rice they recently auctioned.

Lawyer Edward James Dy Buco, customs law division chief in Cebu, said that Allary Alegado of Consolacion won in the bidding having the highest bid of P12,450,000 among the three bidders who participated during the public auction.

Dy Buco said they have set the floor price at P1,250 per bag for the 9,859 bags of smuggled rice from Vietnam that the Bureau of Customs in Cebu has apprehended in December.

BOC district collector Ronnie Silvestre said that the proceeds shall form part of their income for the month of February. The BOC earlier seized the shipment loaded in 33 twenty-footer containers from Vietnam.

The shipments were misdeclared as electronic parts, machine regulators and ceramics, machine regulators and electronic parts. However, customs officials found out during examination that the containers actually contained sacks of rice. 

Misdeclaration of goods is considered a violation under the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines. The rice shipments were consigned to four companies, which already executed affidavits of denial.

According to the companies, they do not own the shipment. (FREEMAN)