3 Customs personnel, cop face raps over ship’s disappearance

CEBU CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman is set to file criminal charges tomorrow against three Customs personnel and a PNP Maritime Command officer earlier dismissed from the service, in connection with the unexplained disappearance of M/V Great Faith, a ship laden with 20,000 bags of rice, on Dec. 25, 2001.

The charges are poised against Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) agent Ely Gealan, special agent Bienvenido Caluyo, PNP Maritime Command officer Rodolfo Cantero and Customs seaman Julius Cesar Villarin for alleged violation of the Anit-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

They were earlier dismissed from the service after administrative findings of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Three others — Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) district commander Ronald Pasion, CIIS officer-in-charge Rogaciano Ceniza Jr. and special agent Ernesto Echevarria — were suspended for three months for simple misconduct and negligence.

Exonerated from administrative liability were Customs district collector Roberto Sacramento and deputy district collector Santiago Maravillas.

Found not criminally liable were Sacramento, Maravillas, Ceniza and Pasion.

When it disappeared, the M/V Great Faith was docked at the Ouano wharf in Looc, Mandaue City, after Maravillas issued a warrant for its seizure and detention, including its cargo.

But Sacramento lifted Maravillas’ order allegedly due to the legal department’s recommendation. Then Customs Commissioner Titus Villanueva, however, reversed Sacramento’s instruction and directed the forfeiture of the vessel and its cargo.

On Christmas Eve, it was left literally unguarded when Villarin, the man on watch, allegedly abandoned it reportedly to be with his family. Shortly after, the seized vessel disappeared. — Freeman News Service