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PRESIDENT Arroyo on Friday made a surprise visit to the Bureau of
Customs office in Port Area, Manila apparently to check on the
bureau’s drive against suspected smugglers of rice, sugar and
flour. The President’s surprise visit was done in the light of
reports of a looming cabinet revamp with the customs bureau being
one of those that will be affected.
The visit also coincided with the filing of a
case before the Justice department against Rubills International
Inc., for the illegal importation of sugar worth P18 million from
Singapore.
Rubills was charged earlier also before the
Justice department for the illegal importation of P31.7-million
worth of flour from China, which were intercepted early last month.
Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales led the
filing of charges against the firm. Morales is being rumored to be
on his way out to make way for losing senatorial candidate, Prospero
Pichay.
During the President’s visit, Morales reported
that the intercepted flour, which has been forfeited in favor of the
government, will be auctioned after it is deemed safe for human
consumption.
Morales also reported that three customs
officers have been suspended for one year without pay for their
allegedly colluding with Rubills. They are Examiner Jennifer Namuag,
Principal Examiner Mel Rabo and Appraiser Gregorio Magat.
Morales said the President instructed the
bureau’s legal division to reassess if the one-year suspension on
the three customs officers is enough punishment for them.
Aside from the suspension, the three are being
held accountable for various administrative charges.
The Customs bureau also filed charges against a
certain Roel Sayson for the illegal importation of 15 sports utility
vehicles that were seized at the Port of Cebu. Executive Order 156
bans the importation of used vehicles.
-- Anthony Vargas
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