Forfeiture proceedings set for seized corals in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs is set to start on June 8 the forfeiture proceedings of the P15 million smuggled black corals seized in Cebu.

Cebu customs district collector Ronnie Silvestre already issued a warrant of seizure and detention on May 24 against the 1X20-footer container van consigned to Cebu Junkshop. The consignee however was found to be non-existent.

Silvestre has scheduled the hearing of the forfeiture proceedings while an investigation is being conducted to identify the people behind the foiled smuggling of back corals and other protected marine species.

Silvestre said that as soon as the items are forfeited in favor of the government, it will be turned over to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for proper disposal.

A Senate investigation will kick-off today to determine the people behind the illegal trade of corals in the country. The investigation is triggered by the seizure of the P35 million worth of smuggled black corals in Manila and in Cebu.

The shipments were all named under Exequiel Navarro, who was apprehended in Manila. Deputy Commissioner Horacio Suansing of the Customs Enforcement Group said Navarro already identified a Chinese-Filipino businesswoman as financier and two other accomplices.

Suansing, who inspected the seized corals in Cebu yesterday, however refused to reveal the names of the alleged financier and accomplices pending the result of their investigation and the filing of the formal complaints.

Enforcement and Security Service director Nestorio Gualberto who was also in Cebu yesterday said that several local officials in Zamboanga are expected to be in the Senate investigation today to shed light on the rampant coral poaching in their area.

Customs officials believe that the shipment seized in Manila and in Cebu came from Zamboanga. They believe that the alleged consignee was just a courier of the Mindanao-based syndicate responsible for the smuggling of black corals and other endangered marine life.

ESS operatives in Cebu led by Capt. Jerry Arizabal apprehended on May 20 a 20-footer container van containing 168 bundles of dried black sea fan corals. It was declared as scrap metals consigned to Cebu Junkshop.

Arizabal said that the shipment is part of the shipment that was earlier apprehended by customs operatives in Manila on April 29. – (FREEMAN)