2 firms charged with smuggling

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) filed charges before the Department of Justice yesterday against two firms for allegedly smuggling mobile phones, tablets and vehicles.

Commissioner Alberto Lina said they filed charges against Uranus proprietor Richie Montalban, who is based in Binondo, Manila, for importing mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, and touchscreen phones misdeclared as thermos casings and gift boxes.

The gadgets, worth P4.2 million, arrived at the Manila International Container Port from Hong Kong in September 2015.

Lina said they filed a separate charge against Neil Bryan Oraiz, manager of Hanabana Trading Ltd. Co., for smuggling an undetermined number of Honda Fit subcompact cars that were misdeclared as used truck parts.

The shipment reportedly came from Japan and arrived at the Port of Davao on Dec. 1, 2013.

The BOC also charged Hanna Orquillas, co-owner of Hanabana Trading; and customs broker Kyle Paolo Villaruz in connection with the smuggled cars.

Customs Deputy Commissioner for Revenue Collection and Monitoring Group (RCMG) Arturo Lachica said it took them more than two years to file the case because they experienced difficulty in gathering evidence and statements from witnesses.