CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs yesterday filed smuggling charges before the Department of Justice against representatives of a firm for allegedly importing rice without necessary documents.
The cases stem from the alleged illegal importation of 16,036 metric tons (16-million kilograms) of rice from September to November 2013 through the ports in Cebu and Manila.
The rice shipment, which came from Vietnam and Thailand, has a total dutiable value of P245 million and an estimated market value of P648 million.
BOC, in a statement sent to The Freeman, said that three separate complaints were filed by BOC district Collectors Roberto Almadin of the Port of Cebu, Elmir Dela Cruz of Manila International Containerized Port and Mario Mendoza of the Port of Manila.
Charges were filed against Marvin Mendoza, owner and proprietor of Silent Royalty Marketing, and the firm’s customs brokers.
Mendoza faces 49 counts of infringing Section 3601 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines and another 49 counts of violating Section 29 of Presidential Decree Number 4, as amended by P.D. No. 1485, which states that only the NFA can import rice while private entities who wish to import must secure permit from the agency.
The firm’s brokers face the same charges for unlawful importation of rice by another consignee, the statement reads.
Each count of violating Section 3601 of the TCCP carries a maximum punishment of ten years imprisonment and a fine of P50,000; while violation of P.D. No. 4 is levied a maximum penalty of four years imprisonment and a fine of P8,000.00 per count.
BOC said the company imported over 6.5 million kilograms of rice through the Port of Manila, where more than 4.4 million kilograms through the Manila International Container Port and close to 5.3 million kilograms through the Port of Cebu.
None of these shipments, BOC said, were covered by any import permit from the NFA nor were any documents filed before the agency.
“Our laws explicitly state the need for permits from the NFA to import rice. We are following the rule of law. Let this be a lesson to unscrupulous rice traders that the Bureau will uphold the welfare of our farmers,” said Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla in the same statement. (FREEMAN)