Ilocos BOC execs rapped for canned meat diversion

Customs officials in Currimao, Ilocos Norte and private importers are now under administrative and criminal investigation for the alleged diversion of P23 million worth of imported canned luncheon meat, the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) said yesterday.

PASG chief Undersecretary Antonio Villar said in a statement that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials were involved in the alleged diversion of five container vans loaded with untaxed luncheon meat from Clark Field in Pampanga to Poro Point.

He identified the officials as Customs wharfinger Ramon Imbisan and other BOC personnel assigned at the sub-port of Currimao, together with Richard Guerrero, operations manager of Aurum Consolidated Inc. (ACI), and Josephine Cruz, marketing manager of Value City Sales Inc. (VCSI).

Villar said the shipped “hot” cargo was seized by PASG operatives for violation of Section 2503 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines for diversion of untaxed foreign cargo.

Prior to the cargo’s seizure, Villar deployed his men to Poro Point in La Union last April 29 to effect a warrant of seizure and detention in Currimao for the 12,025 cases of imported Hormel luncheon meat reportedly owned by VCSI, with office address in Clark Field, Pampanga.

The PASG team led by Jovellano Templo successfully served the warrant issued by the Customs collector of the Port of San Fernando in La Union, in coordination with the Coast Guard through Ltjg. Alberto Ferre, to ACI, the consignee of the luncheon meat found in Warehouse No. 3.

Instead of receiving the warrant, Guerrero initially gave the PASG team his letter addressed to Imbisan and waiver of liability signed by Cruz.

The team proceeded to Imbisan’s office in Currimao but the BOC official advised the PASG personnel that his superior, Customs official Felipe Lunag, should address the matter.

But Lunag also refused to accept the warrant issued by Edward Baltazar, district collector of the Port of San Fernando and sub-port of Currimao, Villar said.

“Imbisan abused his discretion to the detriment of public interest and the government in allowing the discharge and bringing out of cargoes for temporary warehousing purposes,” Villar said in the statement.               – With Jun Elias