BOC Reinstates Subic Staff Linked to Sugar Smuggling

The six Bureau of Customs Staff that were tagged as part of “the possible smuggling of 7,021 metric tons of sugar from Thailand at the Subic Port in Zambales” were all reinstated after the Bureau of Customs (BOC) stated that they did not find any irregularities in the processing of sugar imports.

Acting Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz has stated that the investigation results done by the Internal Inquiry and Prosecution Division of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) found that “there was no negligence on the part of the BOC-Port of Subic personnel in the discharge of their duties.”

The following Port of Subic officials that were reinstated are District Port Collector Maritess T. Martin; Deputy Collector (Assessment) Maita S. Acevedo; Deputy Collector (Operations) Giovanni Ferdinand A. Leynes; Assessment Division Chief Belinda F. Lim; Enforcement and Security Service District Commander Vincent Mark S. Malasmas; and, CIIS Field Supervisor Justin S. Geli, also a lawyer.

In the Office Order which was dated August 22, Ruiz “temporarily transferred” the said officials to the Office of the Commissioner.

“The order shall take effect immediately and shall last until sooner revoked,” said Ruiz last August 24.

Press Secretary Rose Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles had said before that the BOC turned away alleged smuggling of sugar from Thailand  “after they learned that the import permit used for the cargo was recycled meaning it was already used for an earlier sugar shipment.”

She also added that staff will be dealt with accordingly if evidence shows that BOC personnel were working with smugglers.

Source: Business Mirror