1,371 container vans abandoned at Cebu Int’l Port

CEBU, Philippines - A total of 1,371 container vans have been abandoned by their various consignees at the Cebu International Port.

Newly-assumed Bureau of Customs-Cebu district collector Roberto Almadin said that inspection of these container vans began the other day.

“As of now, we do not know yet the contents of these container vans. Inspections are still ongoing,” said Almadin, who promised reforms in the bureau, especially in the aspect of faster trade facilitation and curbing graft and corruption.

Dante Maranan, Almadin’s chief of staff, said no import entry was filed on the abandoned containers.

“Automatic na nga considered abandoned if no import entry was filed 30 days after the discharge of the last package,” said Maranan.

Maranan said the containers were abandoned just this year.

Almadin, a retired army brigader general, said that once the inspection is completed, the bureau will auction the contents of the said containers.

Meanwhile, the 16,000 bags of rice consigned to Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer is still being put on hold by the bureau, as Almadin is still waiting for the final decision of the Office of the Commissioner.

The rice shipment on board MV Queen of Joy, which was supposed to dock at Isabel, Leyte, but took a sidetrip to Cebu, has baffled the bureau.

Isabel officials have been appealing to the bureau to release the shipment intended as relief goods for their residents affected by super typhoon Yolanda.

Customs, however, suspected it was a smuggled shipment. (FREEMAN)