2 SBMA execs tagged in Subic rice smuggling replaced

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Robert Garcia has replaced two officials as the SBMA begins its investigation into the alleged smuggling of 420,000 bags of rice from India.

In a text message, Garcia said he appointed John Ruel Kabigting, manager of the planning and development office, to take over the position of senior deputy administrator Stefani Saño.

Marcelino Sanqui, deputy administrator of the public works group, took over the post of senior deputy administrator for port operations Red Tuazon. Both Saño and Tuazon went on leave to give way to the investigation.

Sources said a ranking member of the SBMA controls the trucking service that hauled the smuggled rice shipment.

Cesar Bulaon of Metro Eastern Trading official identified Saño as the official who sought them to ensure the entry of the rice shipment into the Freeport.

Tuazon was grilled at the Senate hearing for allowing the rice shipment to enter the Freeport without an importation and allocation permit from the National Food Authority (NFA).

“We will seek the services of the government agencies like the Department of Finance or the National Bureau of Investigation in its investigation and submit its report to the Senate hearing the case, so that everything is above board,” Garcia said in a press briefing last Friday.

Garcia denied he is taking a leave of absence due to the controversy. “A lot of rumors are circulating,” he said.

Meanwhile, NFA Administrator Lito Banayo said the 420,000 sacks of rice could not be considered smuggled because it remained inside the Freeport.

”Legally, as long as the rice remained inside the port and are not sold to local traders, we cannot consider it as smuggled,” Banayo said.

Banayo said the NFA did not issue an import permit to Metro Eastern Trading Corp., the warehouse where the rice shipment was stored.

He said Amira Food Ltd., the shipper of the imported rice, is one of biggest rice traders in India. He said the company also exports rice to Iran, Iraq, Middle East, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia. – With Helen Flores