NBI-Caraga vows action vs government men in rice smuggling

BUTUAN CITY — All government personnel with direct duties and responsibilities in the escape of a cargo ship involved in rice smuggling would be charged administratively and criminally, Assistant Regional Director Reynaldo Esmeralda of the National Bureau of Investigation declared yesterday.

He said that the NBI would investigate deeper into the Lumbocan wharf rice smuggling case and the extent of involvement of some government personnel in the escape of cargo ship M/V Rodeo from the wharf.

He admitted that the NBI is having a hard time because of lack of physical evidence like the records of the cargo ship, its cargoes and identities of the crew.

He told The STAR that their investigation showed that M/V Rodeo and the alleged owner, Sam Shipping Lines, have no records at the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).

Esmeralda, however, said he remains optimistic at unraveling the mystery of the ship’s disappearance from Lumbocan wharf in broad daylight right at the very noses of policemen.

This came as Caraga police regional director Alberto Rama Olario told newsmen he would stand by his men and even commend those who led the apprehension of M/V Rodeo.

The ship reportedly carried about 15,000 sacks of rice. Felix Villacastin, owner of the cargo handling firm Concorde Arrastre and Stevedoring Corp., said his men had unloaded 1,186 sacks of rice from the cargo ship, but only 595 sacks are at the Butuan city hall. — Ben Serrano