2 firms face fireworks, rice smuggling raps

MANILA, Philippines - The officials of two companies were charged yesterday for allegedly smuggling rice and pyrotechnics with a total value of P9.4 million at the Manila International Container Port.

In a statement, the Bureau of Customs said it filed charges against Stellant Corp. president Charmayne Angeles, secretary Asuncion Angeles, treasurer Ma. Rhezy Ilada, and incorporator and chairman Ruge Robert Ilada for misdeclaring a P4.5-million shipment of fireworks from Hong Kong as cartons of tissue on Nov. 2, 2014.

The BOC also filed charges against Rainbow Holdings Inc. officials Eunkyoung Son, president and chief executive officer; Soon Seong Jeong, senior adviser; Diosdado Serbio Jr., executive vice president; Rolando Ambrosio, corporate financial officer; Kathleen May Uy, corporate secretary; and other officials for allegedly smuggling P4.9 million worth of rice into the country on July 20 by misdeclaring the shipment as bitumen.