BoC probes cement firm

A cement importer is now in hot water after the Bureau of Customs (BoC) uncovered alleged irregularities in connection with its importation of Taiwanese cement into the country.

Customs officials said TCC Cement Corp. was caught cheating in its import documents to avoid payment of Customs duties. TCC is an affiliate of the giant Taiwanese cement firm, Taiwan Cement Corp.

According to Customs Intelligence and Enforcement Group, TCC has resorted to tampering bills of lading, invoices and other documents and used a single document for several transactions in several instances.

The STAR tried to get the comment of TCC officials to no avail.

The investigators found the irregularities in at least seven TCC Cement shipments, thus, avoiding the payment of more than P4 million in duties.

Customs Director Legal Services Gallan Soriano asked Customs Commissioner Titus Villanueva to hold all import shipments of Taiwan Cement until after the firm has settled the P4 million in tax deficiencies.

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service also recommended the accreditation of TCC Cement Corp. be revoked to prevent the firm from further importation.

Workers’ groups whose jobs are threatened by the sudden increase in the volume of imported cement aired alarm over cement smuggling and under-valuation of shipments.

For their part, the Association of Democratic Labor Organizations called on the government to cancel the licenses of importers violating Customs rules and regulations. – Cecille Suerte Felipe