BOC told to defer bidding of rice

CEBU, Philippines - Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon is expected to arrive in Cebu today to inspect the status of the more than 500,000 bags of smuggled rice apprehended in May.

Bureau of Customs Cebu has scheduled the second bidding of the seized rice from Vietnam on July 18 but Biazon issued an order to defer it.

BOC Cebu Deputy Collector for Operations Ahmed Erpe said that the reason of the order could be National Food Authority’s interest to participate in the bidding.

Arneth Manquiquis, Assistant Chief of the Cebu Intelligence and Investigation Service and the one in charge of the inventory of the seized rice said she knows that NFA inquired about the smuggled rice.

Some sources said that NFA offered to buy P850 per sack of rice which is way below the bid price of P1,560 per sack.

Another source, who refused not to be named, said if NFA will be allowed to buy the rice at P850 per sack, the government will lose at least P500 million.

BOC Cebu was able to sold 26,013 bags of smuggled rice during its first bidding last June 6 earning almost P40.1 million.

The entire rice shipment was initially pegged to cost P1.2 billion. (FREEMAN)