BOC Slaps Smuggling Charges Against Six Traders and a Broker

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For violating Section 3601, in relation to Section 101 and Section 2530 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) including Executive Order No 156 banning the importation of used vehicles and R.A. 8506 prohibiting the importation of right-hand drive vehicles, six (6) traders and one (1) Customs broker are now in deep trouble after they were formally charged today (July 4, 2013,) for smuggling by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Led by Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon himself and Deputy Commissioner for Revenue Collection and Monitoring Group (RCMG) Peter Manzano, who also heads the BOC’s Run-After-The-Smugglers (RATS) group, Biazon said the officers of Philippine Genesis Freight Unlimited, Inc., an Intramuros, Manila based company, led by its Chairman of the Board and President Josefina Yap, Treasurer Raymond Yap, Vice president Pamela Bernal and Directors Anthony N. Yap and Patrishia Anne C. Yap are being charged for attempting to bring into the country three (3) units of used vehicles from Korea worth three million pesos

(PhP 3,000,000.00,) without the required import permitlast May 10, 2013 at the Port of Davao..

Found inside the one (1) forty-footer container van that was consigned to Philippine Genesis Freight Unlimited, Inc. were used Daewoo Rezzo, Kia Carens and a Hyundai Sonata.

“The Supreme Court has already ruled on the validity of Executive Order No. 156. Hence the importation of used vehicles without the required import permits from concerned government agencies is illegal, and the BOC will strictly enforce this law.”Biazon said

On the other hand, Gaspoint Mechanical Engineering Services owner Venecio B. Luterio of Mandaluyong City and his licensed customs broker Benedicto J. Jamitoare being charged for attempting to slip into the country two (2) units of used right-hand drive Mitsubishi Fuso Canter trucks worth PhP 1.5 million from Japan last April 5, 2013 at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

“The essence of R.A. 8506 is to keep our roads safe by not allowing right-hand drive vehicles to ply our streets. The BOC will, therefore, never allow the people’s interest and safety to be compromised on this regard.” Biazon added, even as he stressed that the bureau will aggressively pursue the charges filed today against the seven (7) respondents.

The seizure of the hot vehicles from Korea was facilitated by the discovery of Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) operatives at the Port of Davao of the consignee’s violation of the TCCP. While the seizure of the two used right-hand drive trucks was facilitated by the discovery of MICP Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) operatives led by Bienvenido Rubio of Gaspoint’s violation of R.A. 8506.