K-trash back on M/V Christina

CEBU, Philippines - The Oriental Port and Allied Services Corporation (OPASCOR) has begun loading the Korean trash back to the vessel M/V Christina.

"Nag-load nami kadtong gikan sa Pier 4. Mga 8 p.m. karon maghakot nasad ang mga trucks from Tingub," said OPASCOR Operations Manager Jonathan Fernandez last night.

Fernandez said that only around 500 metric tons of garbage will be reloaded to the vessel as the remaining 2,000 metric tons of it is still inside the vessel.

To recall, 5,000 metric tons of wooden chips and recycled synthetic resins arrived at Cebu Port last January 20 from South Korea.

But the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Cebu issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the shipment last February 8 due to misdeclaration, after it was found out to contain mixed garbage.

The more than 500 metric tons of mixed garbage was dumped in an open dumpsite in Barangay Tingub, Mandaue City to the outrage of the residents who reported the matter to the Mandaue City government and the media.

The other 2,500 metric tons composed of wood chips will not be returned to South Korea, but the BOC will have this auctioned off instead in a public bidding.

Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing in his letter to BOC Cebu District Collector Elvira Cruz expressed no opposition towards BOC’s move but clarified that it does not mean that the city government will not sue all those who are responsible.

The BOC itself has already made a recommended to Run After The Smugglers of the Department of Finance – Bureau of Customs for the filing of administrative and criminal charges against the importer/consignee, Moving Forward Global Trading Inc.

Cruz also imposed a revamp at the BOC-Cebu wherein the acting chief of Entry Processing Unit (EPU), Jessica Delgado was removed from her post and reassigned to the bureau’s Administrative Division.

Delgado, who clarified that she nor EPU is not the one in-charge of the releasing of the shipment, was replaced by Collector I Elizabeth  delas Llagas as acting chief.

Also, COO III Anacleto Baltazar is now the acting chief of the Assessment Division replacing Joaquin Panis who has been reassigned as appraiser. Arnel Coronado has also been reassigned from COO III to acting appraiser.

Verne Enciso, Chief of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation said that the revamp has something to do with the alleged irregularities in relation to the controversial shipment.

Enciso, however, said that they are still investigating whether BOC personnel were in cahoots with the importer/consignee. —/JBB (FREEMAN)