US to help BOC in probe of Bigcas smuggling

MANILA, Philippines - The United States has assured the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of its help in the investigation of a Filipino-American allegedly involved in the smuggling of 29 luxury vehicles and motorcycles.

BOC Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said visiting representatives from the US Department of Homeland Security gave the assurance even if they have yet to respond to the BOC’s letter-request for documents and pertinent information regarding the smuggling of the vehicles involving Fil-Am Lynard Allan Bigcas.

The BOC relayed its request last July 10 through US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. The request was directed to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement director John Morton.

“It was more of a courtesy call and it was discussed that they (US officials) received the letter and that they would assist us on that,” Alvarez told editors and reporters of The STAR during a visit Wednesday night. “In the meeting, they said that they would cooperate.”

He said the Homeland Security representatives also gave him their contact numbers. “If there is a problem, we could give them a call,” he said.

He said he couldn’t tell what step to take next if the BOC’s request for information from the US would remain unanswered for long.

“If they do not answer my request, I do not know who else should I elevate (my request) to,” he said.

The BOC has been criticized for failing to detect the arrival of the expensive vehicles and motorcycles in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon. But Alvarez said the US should also explain how the vehicles were able to leave its shores in the first place.

“In view of the worsening situation of stolen cars from the US being brought illegally into the Philippine territory, may we now request your administration to please enlighten us on how these stolen cars were able to leave the US territory. We would also like to know if there are export documents that you can share with us so that we may be able to use these documents as evidence in the ongoing investigation of this case,” BOC’s letter read.

Alvarez pointed out that based on the BOC’s investigation, “there were no documents or records that would support the allegation that the confiscated vehicles were cleared by Customs as luxury vehicles and motorbikes.”

“The illegal movement of motor vehicles has successfully been brought over to the Philippine territory without proper documentation. It was also discovered that this modus operandi has been operating for quite some time now,” the letter read.

He reminded the US government that under Article 4 Section 3 of the Customs Mutual Administration Agreement (CMAA), entered into by the Philippines and the US on July 27, 2000, the parties “shall on their own initiative or upon request, furnish each other available information regarding the activities that may result in offenses within the territory of the other Party. In serious cases that could involve substantiated damage to the economy, public health or any other vital interest of the party, the Customs Administrations, shall whenever possible supply such information without being requested to do so.”

Alvarez provided the US government with the description of the reported smuggled seven vehicles and 22 motorbikes.

One of the motorcycles was allegedly stolen in Houston, Texas and that some of the cars used to belong to Hollywood screenwriter, producer and film director Skip Woods.

Last May, operatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided warehouses in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon where they found the smuggled vehicles.

A check by the BOC revealed that the vehicles arrived in the country before Alvarez assumed office.

As a result of the discovery of the smuggled vehicles, Alvarez placed on floating status BOC-acting Deputy Collector for Operations and Administration of the Mindanao International Container Terminal (MICT) Noah Dimaporo.

BOC-MICT head Lowell Medija went on leave.