PASG, BOC seize P10-million 'ukay-ukay' products

MANILA, Philippines - The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) inspected yesterday a shipment of “ukay-ukay” or used clothing worth around P10 million that had been grounded for at least two years at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) at the North Harbor in Tondo, Manila.

The shipment, declared as personal accessories and shoe soles, was cleared by the BoC for release last January, intelligence reports stated the shipment was actually used clothing.

Republic Act 4653 prohibits the entry of used textile or clothing into the country.

BOC Commissioner Napoleon Morales said the shipment arrived from Hong Kong in late 2007. The BOC said the shipment will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

PASG chief Antonio Villar said the shipment has many claimants, but the original documents of the shipment show that it was brought in by a well-known ukay-ukay importer.

“This importer has been in the business for many years and has likely been misdeclaring his importations since,” he said.

Villar said they will verify information that the alleged importer of the shipment was R.F. Crisostomo Trading.

A source said there are more or less 1,000 container vans “overstaying” at the MICT, but MICT collector Adelina Molina said there are only 58 container vans that contain garlic and onion, which would be turned into fertilizer or animal feed.

Villar said the PASG and BOC will continue the joint reexamination of overstaying container vans to help expedite the conversion of the seized goods “into collections.” – Paolo Romero, Evelyn Macairan, Iris Gonzales