Case vs Customs officials dropped

CEBU CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has dismissed the graft case against Santiago Maravillas and Doro—teo Toledo who had been charged in their capacity as Customs deputy collectors in the ports of Cebu and Mactan.

Former Customs operations chief Sammuel Pedrosa filed the complaint against Maravillas and Toledo for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of foreign vessels.

Pedrosa alleged that the two were members of a syndicate involved in the smuggling of cargo vessels from Japan.

Pedrosa said about 27 foreign vessels that were docked for repairs in Cebu from Japan and were under re-export bond allegedly got lost under the custody of Customs.

In 1998, Toledo allegedly ordered the release of Mount Olympus, one of the Japan-based vessels which was then consigned to Sandoval Shipyard in Tayud, Consolacion for repair and dry-docking.

The vessel was allegedly sold to a domestic company even if it was subject for re-export to Japan.

Maravillas denied the charge, saying that while he was the bonds officer at the time the alleged incident happened, he did not authorize the release of the vessel.

The Ombudsman said that while there is proof that the vessel evaded the payment of Customs duties, there is no evidence that Toledo and Maravillas were responsible for such an irregularity. — Freeman News Service