Customs seizes ‘hot’ cement cargoes in Cebu, Cagayan

Some P20-million worth of smuggled cement loaded on two vessels in Cebu City and Cagayan were seized the other day by operatives of the Bureau of Customs.

In a report submitted to Customs Commissioner Titus Villanueva, Cagayan de Oro District Port Collector Marietta Zamoranos said the vessels MV Matahari and MV Superstar I were intercepted in Mandaue, Cebu and Gingoog City in Cagayan, respectively.

Zamoranos said a total of 87,000 bags were contained in MV Matahari while MV Superstar contained 48,000 bags, both branded as local Alsons Cement.

Investigation showed that the two vessels left the Port of Lugait, Cagayan de Oro. They were domestically registered but converted to foreign shipment to transport the local cement to an alleged buyer in Indonesia identified as a certain P.T. Nikko.

Zamoranos said even if BOC authorities have not properly cleared the shipment, both vessels managed to leave the port.

Authorities were able to discover the shipowners who were not identified, were trying to evade the $10 "input VAT" local for every sack of local cement for export diverted to the local market.

Zamoranos added that the Indonesian importer PT Nikko was fictitious as the shipowners claimed they diverted the cement because of the unpaid freight and demurrage.

Meanwhile, Villanueva clarified reports that he did not file formal charges against Customs officials and agents over the escape of MV Great Faith on Christmas eve in Cebu City.

Villanueva reiterated that there is already a task force created by the Finance Department to look into the matter. Earlier, he told a congressional inquiry in Cebu City that top Customs officials, especially in Manila, did not connive in the disappearance of Great Faith.

"How could there be a connivance when I personally ordered the forfeiture of the vessel and the rice cargo?" Villanueva said.