Smuggling raps filed vs 5 importers, brokers

August 5, 2018

Bureau of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena through Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) on Friday, August 3, filed five smuggling cases against importers and brokers of smuggled ukay-ukay, cigarettes, and agricultural products before the Department of Justice.

The smuggling cases were filed against JJTS International Trading, Gandar International Import and Export Trading, Proline Logistics Phils., Inc., ZJDP Trading, and Paragon Platinum International Trading Corp.

The importers and brokers allegedly violated Section 1400, Section 1401, and Section 117 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, Republic Act 4653 otherwise known as “An Act To Safeguard The Health of the People and Maintain the Dignity of the Nation By Declaring It a National Policy to Prohibit the Commercial Importation of Textile Articles Commonly Known as Used Clothing and Rags”, and Article 171 and 172 of the Revised Penal Code.

The first case was filed against Emelita P. Peralta and licensed customs broker Toni Rose Amoyen of JJTS International Trading for importing five shipments of misdeclared fabrics, tissue, and onion on September 26, 2017, at the Manila International Container Port (MICP). The goods which came from Quanzhou, China is valued at P8,614,730, with aggregate duties and taxes amounting to more than P4 million.

Also indicted are Theng Mino Gandar, owner of Gandar International Import and Export Trading, and licensed customs broker Toni Rose L. Amoyen, also impleaded in the first case, for facilitating the importation of misdeclared used clothing, rice, shoes and suspension arm from China. The goods which arrived at the MICP on September 20, 2017, has an estimated market value of more than P6 million and aggregate duties and taxes of more than P3 million.

Similarly, the third case was filed against the illegal importation of used clothing from Hong Kong of Proline Logistics Phils., Inc. on February 27, 2018. The ukay-ukay has an estimated market value of more than P2 million. Charged are Wilma A. Bautista, president and general manager; Catherine A. Garcia, vice-president; Hubert R. Bautista, secretary and major stockholder; Julius Cesar F. Pelino Jr., import staff and major stockholder; Rocky S. Dorado, major stockholder; and Salvador I. Labiano Jr., licensed customs broker of Proline Logistics Phils., Inc.

The fourth case is against the owner of ZJDP Trading, Zara Jane Dizon Panganiban, who caused the importation of three containers of onions and potatoes from China, without the required phytosanitary permit from the Department of Agriculture. The agricultural products which arrived on August 22, 2017, are valued at P3,949,819.99, with duties and taxes amounting to more than P1 million.

Another smuggling case was filed against Paragon Platinum International Trading Corp. for the illegal importation of cigarettes on February 21, 2018. The instant criminal complaint is filed against Erin Jorge T. Sumile, proprietor of Paragon Platinum and its broker Bernadine I. Miranda. Paragon Platinum is one of the consignees involved in the illegal released of 105 containers at the Port of Manila. They are also facing another criminal rap filed by BOC last April for their involvement in the illegal release of containers.

“For three consecutive weeks, the Bureau of Customs has filed smuggling cases before the Department of Justice. For 2018, BOC has filed 30 cases against erring importers and brokers. This is to show our unrelenting drive to run after the smugglers who are trying to cheat the government,” Commissioner Isidro Lapena said.

According to BATAS, the aggregate value of the smuggled goods subject of the thirty cases filed by BOC for 2018 is P420 million with approximate duties and taxes amounting to P147 million. DMS