Corruption at Customs

Collector Juan N. Tan of the Port of Batangas reported to Commissioner Angelito Alvarez that 595 containers of dutiable goods supposed to be transshipped to his port disappeared and did not arrive.

This is a long standing practice by big time smugglers. Hundreds of containers of dutiable goods marked for transshipment to Subic, Clark or even to another foreign post disappear or the containers arrive empty, containing stones or old newspapers.

In late 2010, 50 containers of chicken arrived from Hong Kong at Subic port for transshipment to Vietnam.  Intercepted by the Bureau of Animal Industry, the ship carrying the containers was ordered to turn around and go back to Hong Kong. The 50 containers were unloaded at the Subic container port just the same with millions of grease money paid.

At the going rate of P180,000 “tara” or bribe per container, some Customs officials made P1 billion on the missing transshipment of 595 containers to Batangas.

Once again, this explains why Commissioner Angelito Alvarez failed to collect his target every month for the last 11 months.

COJUANGCOS WIN. . . The Supreme Court decision on the Hacienda Luisita, Inc. (HLI) case is a victory for landlords Cojuangco and a big setback for poor farmers and agrarian reform.

The six Justices who decided to order a new referendum for farmers to choose whether to accept stocks or land were Presbitero Velasco Jr. (ponente), Teresita de Castro, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, Jose Perez and Roberto Abad.

In effect, five Justices dissented including Chief Justice Renato Corona who voted to declare Sec. 31 of the CARP Law unconstitutional. The four Justices who voted to distribute the land directly to 6,296 farmers were Arturo Brion, Martin Villarama Jr., Jose Mendoza and Maria Lourdes Sereno, considered the more respected members of the high court.

The Supreme Court would do well to reverse its decision on the Motion for Reconsideration if it wants to avoid being labeled now as an Aquino court.

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AFTER ONE YEAR. . . . . . .

1. NAIA Terminal 3 is still not fully operational;

2. The Manila International Airport is still downgraded, resulting in no flights to Europe for PAL. It is labeled the 4th worst airport in the world;

3. No progress in the peace process with MILF and NPA;

4. General Carlos Garcia is now a free man;

5. Ex Usec Jocjoc Bolante still enjoying his millions;

6. The Truth Commission still in limbo;

7. Jueteng still in full bloom;

8. PPP projects still to be bidded out;

9. Usec Rico Puno still in power, Jesus Robredo is still Acting DILG Secretary;

10. Drug trade flourishing with all 900 barangays in Manila drug affected;

11. Murders, carjackings and rapes have increased by 13-15 percent;

12. Oil, rice and sugar smuggling still ongoing;

13. Joblessness is rising. OFW jobs reducing;

14. Inflation is rising. Latest is 4.6 percent for June, a two-year high;

15. Price of rice now in the P30/kilo range, pork at P180, chicken at P130;

16. We are still short of 66,000 classrooms, 113,000 teachers;

17. Floods are still hitting Metro Manila, Central Luzon and now most of Mindanao. Still no dredging of Laguna de Bay;

18. Colorum buses still running on Edsa;

19. Parts of Metro Manila and many towns are still waterless;

20. Oil companies recording higher profits by the tens of billions;

21. Samar and Balay factions still fighting. ES Jojo Ochoa strengthens his Malacañang base;

22. Thousands of Koreans, Chinese and Indians still illegally working or doing business in the Philippines;

23. No big fish has been convicted for corruption;

24. President Aquino has not found his lady love. He is still smoking.  

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MORE CRIME. . . A Japanese investor Akira Hishijima, 75, and interpreter Takuo Yoshimoto, 74, were hogtied and robbed by four armed men at their 30th floor luxury condominium at BSA Tower in Legaspi Street, Makati.

Sherlyn Rapisura, an international investment company manager, had her Hyundai Tucson carjacked by armed men in Marikina. They even withdrew P46,000 from an ATM machine.

Marcos, Ilocos Norte Police Chief Naldo Aromin and SPO3 Danny Ballesteros were killed in a shootout with robbers.

Ex Mayor Najir Maldisa of Maimung, Sulu was shot dead while his wife, Aleila was seriously wounded by gunmen riding on motorcycles in Zamboanga City. Asrap Sapar, son of a Muslim Imam, was killed when a bomb exploded inside a mosque in Sharif Aguak, Maguindanao.

Two soldiers and a militiaman were shot dead in a shootout inside a detachment of 72nd Infantry Battalion in Matanao, Lanao. Makati policeman PO2 Victoriano Cruz, 40, was shot and seriously wounded by a suspected drug pusher.

Businesswoman Evelyn Maranon was shot between the eyes during a robbery of her store in Pasig. Businesswoman Nieves Toledo, 49, was shot dead in an ambush in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City.

Luis Reyes, 29, and Joseph Bacoloman, 30, a burger stand operator were shot dead in Novaliches, QC.

A 5th dental clinic was held up in Fairview, Quezon City by a 30-year-old man who posed as a patient.

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TIDBITS. . . The Cabinet Members causing President Aquino’s headache are supposed to be Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles and Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronaldo Llamas. Deles has recommended revival of the MOA-AD entered into by GMA which President Aquino rejected.

Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno gathered 1,000 Barangay chairman, kagawads and NGO leaders at the Manila Hotel last June 24. The attendance was impressive considering that 28 of 38 City Councilors have now affiliated with his Asenso Manileño party. He can mount a formidable challenge to Mayor Fred Lim in 2013.

Condolences to the family of former Manila Councilor King Lorenzo who died in Australia at age 83.