Try to unload ‘hot’ rice in Cebu bared

CEBU CITY — A former staffer of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service said yesterday that there was an attempt to unload smuggled rice off M/V Great Faith at the Ouano wharf.

Former CIIS chief for Cebu Rogaciano Ceniza alleged that former CIIS chief for Visayas and Mindanao Alexander Atienza, Jr. was the one who instructed him to call the Customs police deputy commander Ronald Pasion and ask for the release of a portion of the rice shipment of M/V Great Faith.

Ceniza, who has recently submitted his sworn statement to investigators, said Pasion refused to accede to the request.

However, Atienza, vehemently denied Ceniza’s statements although he admitted telling Ceniza to call Pasion.

Atienza clarified that what he told Ceniza last Dec. 19 was to inform Pasion to be on alert regarding reported plans to unload the rice shipment from the vessel.

But Pasion confirmed in an interview that Ceniza really asked him such a favor, allegedly upon the instruction of Atienza.

Pasion said that although Ceniza did not categorically say what kind of favor the latter was asking, he pressumed that it was the unloading of a portion of the rice shipment.

While under Customs custody, the M/V Great Faith managed its way to freedom last Dec. 25, loaded with more less 30,000 sacks of smuggled rice.

Meanwhile, the CIIS has put on hold an undetermined quantity of rice suspected to be smuggled via Iloilo.

Halleck Valdez, CIIS chief for Visayas and Mindanao, said they were tipped off last Wednesday night that people were unloading a shipment of rice at the Ouano wharf in Mandaue City and at Pier 3 in Cebu City. — Freeman News Service