The Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) sustained fortnightly filing of charges against suspected smugglers has once again placed a trader and his broker who tried to sneak Php24 million worth of illegally imported frozen mackerel from China, into the country in hot water.
At the Department of Justice (DOJ) filing of charges today against EEB Enterprise’s owner Edgar Estrella Buenavidez together with his broker Salvador Fermil Abaya II, Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said, EEB Enterprise’s 8×40 container vans of frozen mackerel and bonito were seized by BOC Manila International Container Port – Enforcement Security Service (MICP-ESS) operatives in December last year after they were found to have no import permits from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), a clear violation of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP), as amended, Republic Act No. 8550 otherwise known as The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998,†Department of Agriculture-Administrative Order No. 09, Series of 2010 and Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code.
“Aside, of course, from the government revenue losses caused by smuggling, what makes this illegal trade practice even worse, is when traders try to sneak food products into the country without the required government permits to ensure its safety for human consumption,” Biazon said.
“That is why I have a standing instruction to all BOC frontline personnel to be even more vigilant on food importations, if only to secure the consuming public from health hazards posed by illegally imported food products,” the Commissioner added.
For his part, Revenue Collection and Monitoring Group (RCMG) Deputy Commissioner Peter Manzano, who is also the Bureau’s Run-After-The-Smugglers (RATS) Head said lawyers will continue their training on the latest trends and developments in Customs.
“Upon the Commissioner’s instruction, we are vigorously pursuing the cases we have filed with the DOJ to enable us to get convictions in due time, hence, we are developing strategies to tighten our cases against suspected smugglers,” Manzano stressed.
The Bureau is now geared up for a personnel re-alignment to maximize its efficiency and revenue generating capabilities. And one of the areas being strengthened is its RATS program.
“If we get convictions from all the cases we have filed against violators of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP), this could be a strong signal to smugglers. Perhaps, when it happens, we should start to see our revenue collection even go higher,” Biazon pointed out.
