Payumo cans SBMA police head for SUV smuggling

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The chief of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s (SBMA) law enforcement department (LED) is now in hot water for his alleged involvement in the conspiracy to smuggle-out 10 luxury vehicles from Freeport complex that resulted in the loss of P50 million to the government.

SBMA Chairman Felicito Payumo ordered the preventive suspension of Col. Carlitos Mallari, chief of the SBMA’s LED, to avoid any cover up into the ongoing investigation on the smuggling of luxury vehicles.

According to the documents obtained by STAR from SBMA’s Intelligence and Investigation Office (IIO), a certain Roland Santos, a security officer of the SBMA LED, escorted out the 10 luxury vehicles last Aug. 30 to the Kalayaan exit gate of the Freeport complex.

The luxury vehicles, including Mitsubishi Pajeros, Toyota Land Cruisers and Isuzu Bighorns, were allegedly smuggle-out from Subic Acropolis, Inc. inside the Freeport complex, the IIO report said.

The investigation report also said, Santos admitted that he acted upon the order and instruction of Mallari.

Mallari denied involvement in the smuggling of luxury vehicles.

Smuggling operations are still rampant in this world-class Freeport because smugglers are allegedly being protected by high-ranking officials of Subic Land Transportation Registration Office, Olongapo City Licensing Office, PNP Traffic Management Group and Bureau of Customs, according to sources here. — Bebot Sison Jr.