The Bureau of Customs filed smuggling-related complaints at the Department of Justice against representatives of Silent Royalty Marketing for importing rice without valid import permits. The cases stems from the illegal importation of 16,036 Metric Tons (16-Million kilograms) of rice from September to November 2013 through the ports in Manila and Cebu. The rice, which came from Vietnam and Thailand, have a total dutiable value of P245-Million and an estimated market value of P648-Million.
Three separate complaints were filed by BOC Acting District Collectors Mario Mendoza of the Port of Manila; Elmir Dela Cruz of the Manila International Container Port; and Roberto Almadin of the Port of Cebu against Marvin Mendoza, owner and proprietor of Silent Royalty Marketing, and the firm’s customs brokers, namely: Francis Rudolfh Forneste, Kenneth Quial, Elbert Lusterio, Denise Kathryn Rosaroso and John Kevin Cisneros. Mendoza faces 49 counts of infringing Section 3601 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) and another 49 counts of violating Section 29 of Presidential Decree (PD) Number 4, as amended by P.D. No. 1485, which states that only the NFA can import rice and private entities who wish to do the same must secure a permit from the agency. The brokers of Silent Royalty face the same charges for the unlawful importation of the rice.
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.
The cases stem from Silent Royalty’s importations of rice without any import permits issued by the National Food Authority (NFA) from September to December 2013. The company imported over 6.5-Million kilograms of rice through the Port of Manila; 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 were covered by any import permit from the NFA nor were any documents filed before the agency.
Records showed that Silent Royalty imported 16,000 Metric Tons of rice in 2013. However, the NFA certified that Silent Royalty never secured a single import permit from 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,” says Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla.
Earlier this month, the BOC filed smuggling cases against Bold Bidder Marketing for the illegal entry of rice. Rosaroso, Cisneros, Forneste and Lusterio—who also brokered Bold Bidder’s rice imports, already face similar smuggling-related charges.
Download Tax Watch – Who are the rice importers for 2013
