Customs broker claims Bureau of Customs officials allegedly receiving bribes

August 7, 2017

A customs broker claims some officials of the Bureau of Customs allegedly receive bribes to speed up shipment of goods in the country before a congressional hearing on Monday. During the hearing of the House committee on dangerous drugs chaired by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on shabu smuggling, Mark Taguba named them one by one. Taguba named the Customs Deputy Commissioner Teddy Raval, Manila International Container Port (MCIP) district collector Vincent Maronilla, MCIP Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) district intelligence officer Teodoro Sagaral, a deceased Major Gutierrez, CIIS director Neil Estrella, Import and Assessment Service director Milo Maestrecampo; and a certain Maita Acevedo and Jayson, as recipients. The officials denied having received any bribe. “Your honor, these persons linked me to drugs so I must speak. They have no evidence against me, your honor,” said Taguba. The House leadership, through House Majority Floor Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, assured they will also move that he be placed under the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice. Taguba said his containers didn’t carry any illegal drugs. The estimated P6.4 billion worth of shabu entered the country on May 17, but was discovered only last May 26 in a warehouse in Valenzuela. Maestrecampo, a former military officer who joined the Oakwood mutiny, said he did not know Taguba or anyone by the name of “Tita Nani” who allegedly receives the money for him or his office. “I hope you (Taguba) realize that I live in a small town, we're on national TV. You've already destroyed me because of the circumstances, I have already lost my name,” Maestrecampo said. He vowed to step down, submit his bank accounts and open all his assets for legal scrutiny. “I am satisfied with my salary. I can probably be a rebel but I’m not a thief,” Maestrecampo said. “I’m trying to defend my integrity here and I’m willing to submit myself to any investigation.” Maronilla said he has not authorized anyone to “collect for the office of the district collector.” “If there was someone representing himself as from office of the district collector, I will investigate. I deny the allegations my office has been getting to facilitate shipment,” said Maronilla During the early part of the hearing, Taguba bared he allegedly paid grease money per container worth a total of P27,200. Taguba gave the panel a breakdown of alleged grease money: P2,000 to the Customs’ Intelligence Group (IG), through   certain “Gerry”; P3,000 to the port collector; P1,000 , Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG); P500, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director; P500, CIIS district collector; P500, Enforcement Security Service (ESS) Director; P500, ESS district director; P1,000, X-Ray unit; P200, Pier Inspection Division; P500, Formal Entry Division; P10,000, IAS; and P7,500 “for the section.” DMS