Teves ruling on forfeiture of Malaysian ship scored

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – Bureau of Customs (BOC) deputy commissioner Celso Templo told The STAR here on Wednesday that the owner of the Malaysian vessel that was ordered forfeited recently in favor of the government has filed a motion for reconsideration contesting the ruling of Finance Secretary Margarito Teves.

Templo, who visited the ship, MTUG Sungai Julan 1, at the pier here said that the government can’t auction the vessel yet because of the appeal of the owner.

“Nag-file sila ng motion for reconsideration against sa decision ni Secretary Teves and that’s their right,” Templo said referring to the Nov. 6 decision of Teves affirming the forfeiture ruling of Edward Baltazar, BOC district collector. Teves’ decision favored Baltazar’s ruling and overruled the Oct. 8 reversal decision of BOC Commissioner Napoleon Morales who ordered that the ship be released upon the payment of its owner of P10,000 fine.

Templo said lawyers of the ship owner filed the motion at the legal department of the Department of Finance after Teves handed down his decision. He, however, said that once the appeal is junked, the BOC can now auction the vessel and the proceeds will be additional revenue for the government.

“This ship was already forfeited by the District Collector and was already affirmed by Secretary Teves. It will be sold through auction and should we be able to sell it, we will realize additional revenue of some P110 million,” Templo said.

Templo visited the Port of San Fernando here because he is the deputy commissioner assigned to oversee the Port’s collection and operation. “I congratulate the district collector and his staff here because I noticed that they would be able to surpass their collection this year. This is one port where I exercise my supervision,” he said.

Baltazar said their target collection is P985 million but they incurred losses early this year since the Sual Plant in Pangasinan has stopped importing coal because it has undergone major repair.