By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
MANILA, Philippines (PNA) — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a P1.058-billion smuggling case against Petronas Energy Philippines, Inc. (Petronas).
This is the first smuggling case filed by the BOC under the newly-appointed Commissioner Rozzano “Ruffy” Biazon.
Named respondents in the complaint for violation of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) were Evelyn Cardoza Taneo, chief finance officer of Petronas; customs brokers Carlos Barte, Dennis Ayong, Edgar Rey Gallana and Gerry Conlu; and several others identified only John Does.
Based on the complaint, Petronas shipped imported petroleum products from July 2010 to March 2011 to the Port of Cebu, Port of Iloilo and Sub-port of Iligan covered by 51 import entries.
But the shipments with the combined value of P1,058,129, 741.63 were all released at the three ports without the required Load Port Survey.
“There being no Load Port Surveys, all the foregoing shipments that arrived at the aforestated ports are considered high-risk, should not have been released from the BOC and should have remained in customs custody,” the complaint read.