Returning Filipino Caught with Shabu Charged by BOC

A returning Filipino from Hong Kong is now in deep trouble after Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials led by Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon formally charged him today (January 24, 2013) at the Department of Justice (DOJ) for violation of Section 3601 and Section 2530 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) including the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Charged was Roendo B. Ariata who was caught by alert airport customs officials with 7.0486 kilograms of Methampethamine Hydrochloride or “shabu” that were concealed in seven (7)  rectangular boxes labeled “Gold Premium Milk” and stuffed in his luggage. The “shabu” haul was worth Php 56 million.

According to Biazon, Ariata arrived at theNinoyAquinoInternationalAirport–Terminal 2 via Philippine Airlines flight no.  PR 307 on January 8, 2013.

 “We have now doubled our efforts in the monitoring of arriving passengers, especially those coming from high risk countries for illegal drugs, after we have seen a shift in the modus of international drug traffickers.” Biazon said. “They are now using the airports for their illegal drug trade through drug mules.” The Commissioner added.

 The BOC, during the third quarter of 2012 alone confiscated over 20 kilos of “shabu” from seven foreign nationals worth over Php 163 million. All have already been charged by the BOC at the DOJ for violation of the TCCP and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“I have said it once and I will say it once again. The Bureau of Customs will never allow any international drug trafficking syndicate to make thePhilippinesas a transshipment point for their illegal drugs, much more make thePhilippinesas one of their markets.” Biazon said, adding that. “Customs officials will, at all times, be on the watch for illegal drugs smuggling attempts and we will not hesitate to prosecute all those involved it.”

The January 8 drug seizure is the first illegal drugs haul of the BOC for the year.

For his part, BOC Deputy Commissioner for Revenue Collection and Monitoring Group (RCMG) and Run-After-The-Smugglers (RATS) Head Peter Manzano said, they will closely monitor the progress of the case they have filed today, if only to ensure that illegal drug traffickers are jailed, where they rightfully belong.

-- BOC 25 January 2013

Customs Broker’s Lounge Operationalized

An electronic system of monitoring the status of shipments through the Broker’s Lounge installed at the Port of Manila (POM) and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) became operational last Monday, January 14, 2013.

This is a step further in the computerization program of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) assuring the integrity, security and smoother flow of work in the processing of entry documents.

The electronic monitoring system, to be pilot tested at the POM and MICP and replicated later in other major ports, will display among others the following information:  Entry Number, Status Section Number, Time and Remarks.

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon has instructed the district collectors concerned to provide a kiosk for stakeholders where they could check the status of their entries in case a particular entry number is not displayed in the monitor.

Overcrowding and disorderly conduct of transactions has long been a problem in the country’s major ports where hundreds daily elbow their way to have their shipments promptly attended to, at times resulting to much delay when papers get misplaced or lost.

 For security purposes and to maintain order in the workplace, the brokers and all other stakeholders are now prohibited from entering the premises of the Formal Entry Division to follow up their shipment.

 No less than President Aquino witnessed the inauguration of the Broker’s Lounge when he graced the 110^th Anniversary Celebration of the Bureau of Customs Feb. 6 last year.

In his report to the President, Commissioner Biazon took the occasion to defend the reform measures he has instituted, saying he believes that in order for the bureau to achieve a state where revenue leakages are greatly reduced if not completely plugged, systems and processes need to be streamlined and automated.

“Eradicating red tape, cutting down the number of steps in the processes and reducing the opportunities for human intervention to the barest minimum are our objectives in line with the vision to see a  Bureau of Customs not only as a world class Customs administration that Filipinos can be proud of, but one that the People can trust,” Biazon said.

Speaking extemporaneously during the occasion, President Aquino underscored the importance of having an efficient and morally upright BOC in nation building.  Thus, the need for reforms in the Bureau of Customs.

-- BOC 25 January 2013

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Biazon Tighten Grip on Revenue Collection

General Santos City- Unfazed by rumors that he would soon be replaced, and backed up by a Malacanang statement affirming the President’s continued trust in him, Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon today visited the General Santos City (GenSan) Fish Port to check on the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) industry protection measures. The visit comes in the wake of his organizational re-configuration of the BOC in order to tighten its grip on smuggling and revenue collection.
 

According to Biazon, the tuna industry in GenSan is one of the country’s major economic life line, generating billions of pesos in revenues yearly and thousands of jobs for the locals in this southern Philippines city.

“The GenSan tuna industry is a major economic booster for the Philippine government that needs full support, particularly from the Bureau of Customs.” Biazon said, even as he added that, “The BOC is committed to protect this industry, if only to save the jobs of thousands of Filipinos and to facilitate an investor friendly environment for the industry.”

In 2012, the BOC- Sub-Port of Dadiangas (General Santos City), collected  Php 512. million  in revenues, surpassing its assigned target for the year of Php 496.3 million by Php 16 million. 

According to General Santos City sub-port District Collector Pendatun Alim, the tuna industry contributed a big part to their revenues making it the second top exporter and importer in his port, next only to the pineapple industry.

The BOC customs office at General Santos City is a sub-port of the BOC-Port of Davao District Office under Collector Martiniano Bangcoy. According to Bangcoy, the sub-port of General Santos City is his district’s major revenue generator.

For his part, Century Tuna and GenTuna Plant Controller Emmanuel Mernilo said, the current business 

environment in GenSan’s tuna industry has made it a very viable business sector. Mernilo attributes the success of GenSan’s tuna industry to the renewed trust of industry stakeholders in the way things are done by the government, particularly that of the BOC.

“Sanhi na rin ito ng aming pagbabalik ng tiwala sa pamamalakad ng mga  sangay ng gobyerno na namamalakad sa industriyang ito particular na ang Bureau of Customs” (This is the result of our renewed trust in the way things are done by the government agencies regulating this industry, particularly the Bureau of Customs.) Mernilo said.

While in General Santos City, Biazon also inaugurated the sub-port of Dadiangas’ newly renovated customs building named the Yellow Fin building. The Commissioner’s program of reform for the BOC also includes infrastructure development and structural facelifting of the Bureau’s facilities in order to provide a safe and pleasant working environment for BOC personnel and the stakeholders.

- BOC, 21 January 2013

Biazon Re-Configures BOC to Meet Collection Target

“This is just the initial phase of several other measures we shall undertake to meet our collection target for the year 2013.” Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon stressed during the fortnightly “Kapihan sa Aduana” of the Bureau of Customs Press Corps today (January 14, 2013) to explain his reason for reshuffling 16 Customs officials.

According to Biazon, while they posted a positive collection growth in 2012 compared to its 2011 collections, the BOC is, however, tasked with an even bigger collection target for 2013 at PhP 394.billion. “We are now doing a re-configuration of our organizational structure, especially among our frontline officials, to re-position our district collectors where they can be most productive.” Biazon said.

“I will now do a quarterly performance assessment of district collectors and other operating unit heads under the Office of the Commissioner and set a particular apprehension quota for them, in addition to their revenue collection targets, of course.” The Commissioner added.

Affected in Biazon’s initial re-shuffling salvo, among others, were BOC X-Ray Unit Chief lawyer Lourdes Mangaong who was re-assigned as District Collector for Cagayan De Oro. Replacing Mangaoang is Subic Port Collector lawyer Mimel Talusan.

Office of the Commissioner Acting Chief-of Staff lawyer Adelina S. Molina for her part was named new Subic Port Collector. While Port of Cebu District Collector lawyer Ronnie Silvestre and Port of Clark District Collector lawyer Edward De La Cuesta swapped assignments, practically recalling Silvestre to his original item as Port of Clark District Collector.

“I will not hesitate to re-assign or re-shuffle customs officials who may not be performing up to expectations.” Biazon said, adding that, “We shall be closely monitoring the performance of frontline customs officials.”

Biazon also explained that he will also push for the completion of the BOC’s modernization and computerization program this year to facilitate revenue collection and mitigate the problem of smuggling.

The Commissioner, however, stressed that even with the huge collection target set on the BOC this year, he is still hopeful of meeting this target. “We shall be adjusting our collection strategy every now and then to make the BOC responsive to present trends and needs.” Biazon said.”I am forever an optimist” he added.

BOC, 14 January 2013

31 CHARGED BY BOC FOR RICE SMUGGLING

Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ruffy Biazon today, led the filing of appropriate charges against 31 officers of four (4) Central Luzon based Multi-Purpose cooperatives at the Department of Justice (DOJ) for their involvement, as consignees, in the attempt to smuggle into the country 78,000 bags of rice from Vietnam worth PhP 93,600,000.00 through the Port of Legazpi City in the Bicol Region.

 According to Biazon, the illegal rice shipment from Vietnam which all arrived at the Bicol port in the same boat on September 2, 2012, did not have the required import permits in violation of Sections 101 and 3601 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP).  Moreover, the number of bags of rice that were illegally bought into the country by the four (4) cooperatives were all beyond their imported rice quota allocation balances.

“We will never allow any multi-purpose cooperative to exploit their rice importation allocation privileges for illegal activities.  We will carefully review the entries of all rice importations to ensure that these are covered with the required permits and importation quota allocations are not violated.”  Biazon said.  “While we support the cause of cooperatives, we will, however, strictly enforce the country’s customs rules and laws”.  He added.

Charged were Pampanga based Kapatirang Takusa Multi-Purpose Cooperative Directors Orlando Manimbot, Juanito Mangilit, Joseph Guevarra, Alfredo Manimbo, Tommy Navarro, Jaime Bitangcol and Efren Bulaon.  The Kapatiran was the consignee for 21,000 bags of rice worth PhP 25,200,000.00.  Aside from not having the required import permit, the Kapatiran only had a rice quota allocation balance of 19,000 bags of rice at the time of importation.

 The officers of Pampanga based Ugnayan Magbubukid ng San Isidro Cooperative Emily Alabado, Christopher Hernandez, Editha Alabado, Teresita Manlastas, Arly Guevarra, Luciano Alabado and Santiago B. Francisco for their part, were charged for being the consignee, as officers of the cooperative, of another 21,000 bags of the hot rice from Vietnam worth PhP25,200,000.00 when their imported rice allocation quota’s balance at that time was only good for 6,800 bags of rice.

 On the other hand, the officers of Bulacan based Malampampang Concerned Citizens Multi-Purpose Cooperative Cipriano Evangelista, Ernesto Gonzales, Guillermo Marcelo, Edgardo Evangelista, Henry Ochoco, Milagros Pelayo, Nelson Evangelista, Arden Evangelista and Jessie De la Cruz were also charged for being the officers of the consignee cooperative for 18,000 bags of the illegally imported rice from Vietnam worth PhP21,600,000.00, even if the coop only had a rice importation quota allocation balance of only 6,900 bags.

And Samahang Magsasaka Kapampangan at Katagalogan Multi-Purpose Cooperative officers Maximo Hernancez, John Ray Retobado, Ponciano B. Hernandez, Dominador P. Lalu, Felipe A. Mangilit, Michael Manliclic and Danilo Santos were all charged as well for their cooperative’s being consignee to 18,000 bags of smuggled rice from Vietnman worth PhP21,600,000.00.  The cooperative’s rice importation quota allocation balance at the time of importation was only for 14,000 bags of rice.

For his part Customs Deputy Commissioner for RCMG and Run-After-The Smugglers (RATS) Head Peter Manzano said, today’s filing brings to 122 the number of cases filed by the BOC against smugglers since Biazon’s appointment as Customs Chief.  “In line with the Commissioner’s intensified anti-smuggling campaign, we will never waiver in our thrust to sue all those involved in smuggling.” Manzano said.

 - BOC,10 January 2013