List of big suspected smugglers disclosed Corrupt BOC personnel ignore Aquino warning By Jerry E. Esplanada Philippine Daily Inquirer | February 3, 2014 at 2:58 am More than four months after the launch of the reform project of the Bureau of Customs, about a dozen big traders continue to get “special treatment” from old hands at the agency, where their misdeclared and undervalued imported goods cost the government billions of pesos in lost revenue every year. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO More than four months after the launch of the reform project of the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC), about a dozen big traders continue to get “special treatment” from old hands at the agency, where their misdeclared and undervalued imported goods cost the government billions of pesos in lost revenue every year. Under-the-table deals between smugglers and corrupt customs personnel, along with globalization and trade liberalization, are among the main causes of the bureau’s failure to meet its revenue collection targets, a newly appointed BOC official has pointed out. The official, who requested not to be identified, also called the scalawags “proof that President Aquino’s stern warning to corrupt agency officials and employees (to shape up or get out) has been largely ignored.” The President has reportedly been incensed by the irregularities and inefficiencies at the BOC. Customs insiders furnished the Inquirer over the weekend a list of traders, the supposed consignees and brokers of their imported commodities, among other data, from Jan. 10 to 23. Topping the list is “Big Mama,” identified as a certain Bim Castillo, who allegedly facilitated the release of at least 32 shipments of mostly plastic resin, as well as plastic pipes and packaging materials. The various commodities, mainly from China, were shipped to the country in 83 12-meter containers and 20 6-m containers. During the two-week period, at least 13 companies were used by Big Mama’s group as consignees. “Many old-timers know her personally as well as her influence,” said the BOC official. Kimberly Gamboa et al. Other traders include the following: – A certain Kimberly Gamboa, whose group was allegedly behind the shipment of 29 12-m containers of mostly plastic resin. They also shipped two 12-m containers of plastic toys. – A certain JR Tolentino, who allegedly facilitated the release of 19 shipments of plastic resin, pipes and fittings as well as packaging materials. The shipments were loaded in 31 12-m containers and two 6-m containers. – A certain David Tan, whose group shipped 10 plastic resin, packaging materials and PVC sheeting in eight 12-m containers and 10 6-m containers. Customs insiders claimed he was “one of at least three David Tans” doing business with the bureau. – A certain Moso, who allegedly facilitated the release of eight plastic resin shipments, all in 24 12-m containers. – A certain Aying Acuzar, whose three shipments of plastic products were brought to the Manila International Container Port in two 12-m containers and one 6-m container. The Inquirer is checking insiders’ claim that he is a brother of a real-estate businessman related by affinity to a high Cabinet official. – The tandem of a certain Bobot and Tagupa, who are allegedly behind the shipment of 16 12-m containers of plastic resin. – A certain Eric Yap, who allegedly brought in at least two 12-m containers of plastic manufacturing materials. – A certain Bocalin, said to be behind the shipment of two 12-m containers of plastic brushes and other cleaning materials. – A certain Joel Teves, the alleged facilitator of a shipment of two 6-m containers of PVC sheets. – A certain Jerry Teves, said to be behind the shipment of one 12-m container of packaging materials. ‘Tara,’ collection targets Like another David Tan, the Goliath of rice smuggling in the country, a certain “Ma’am T” and “Mr. T,” among others, these traders can influence the volume of imports handled by the bureau, either by withholding or bringing in more shipments to help the BOC meet its monthly collection targets. That is, if the mutually agreed “tara,” or dirty money, to facilitate the release of the imports is met between them and their contacts at the agency, the customs official also said. From 2002 to 2011, the government lost more than P1.33 trillion in revenue due to smuggling through the country’s ports, according to the 800-member Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI). In a 20-page study, a copy of which was given to the Inquirer, the FPI said the forgone revenue came up to P889.5 billion from 2002 to 2008, P119.65 billion in 2009, and P326.76 billion in 2010 and 2011. The business group arrived at the figures by finding the “disparities in import data” from the BOC and the International Monetary Fund. 3 principal mandates Customs Commissioner John Phillip Sevilla calls the bureau’s antismuggling drive one of the agency’s “three principal mandates,” along with revenue collection and trade facilitation. “These three are equally important. We want to move forward on all these three,” he told the Inquirer in a recent interview. Asked about the operations of big-time smugglers, the former finance undersecretary for privatization said: “Now you have three high-profile people with nicknames. But are they the only ones?” Entire ecosystem “We’re talking of an entire ecosystem here… . I’m trying to understand how it works not from the point of view of three individuals but from how the system works,” he added. Earlier, Sevilla’s predecessor, Ruffy Biazon, said that “commissioners come and go, but the kalakaran (way of doing things) remains the same as it has always been.” “That’s because people have always looked at smuggling as the be-all and end-all of the problem. If you remove one corrupt individual and yet the same environment prevails, the risk for the replacement to go bad remains high,” Biazon said. Biazon said the problem of smuggling did not just crop up during his tenure. “It is a problem that hounds every BOC administration, not just here but around the world. Even the most technologically advanced customs agencies face the same problem. The only difference is the magnitude of the problem and the dynamics of the system prevailing in each country,” he said. The former Muntinlupa City legislator said reforms would contribute greatly to the antismuggling efforts of the bureau. “While the basics remain the same, that is, the apprehension of those involved in smuggling from within the BOC and corrupt businesses, institutional reforms will gradually change the environment at customs and make it difficult for the culture of corruption to continue,” Biazon said. Face of corruption In a report, titled “Uproot Corruption, Reboot Customs,” the Department of Finance noted that “a long history of backroom deals, institutionalized theft and impunity has made the Bureau of Customs one of the most prominent faces of corruption in the government.” But “this is beginning to change with drastic shifts in leadership, personnel and processes already taking place as a result of the administration’s reform agenda,” the report said. “Our aim is to revitalize the bureaucracy, uproot the culture of corruption and jump-start a virtuous cycle of integrity and true public service in the bureau,” it added. m.inquirer.net/newsinfo/?id=572994
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 05:46:25 +0000