GOTCHA! Bureau of Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio inspects the sacks of misdeclared refined sugar on Thursday, March 2, as BOC Port of Subic District Collector Maritess “Meeks” Martin looks on. (Photo grab from the Facebook page of BOC Port of Subic)
OLONGAPO CITY — In what seems to be a double victory for the Bureau of Customs-Port of Subic (BOC-POS) under District Collector Maritess “Meeks” Martin, the premier port has exceeded its February 2023 collection with a surplus of 3.03% or P118.64 million and also foiled over 30,000 sacks of misdeclared refined sugar valued at P150 million in Subic Bay Freeport Zone in this city.
Martin thanked all the men and women of the BOC-POS and to all their very supportive stakeholders who collectively contributed to be able to meet the port’s collection target.
On Thursday, March 2, Martin issued Pre-Lodgement Control Orders and Alert Orders following derogatory information from the Department of Agriculture (DA) about the subject shipments.
Immediately acting on the report received, Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, with the BOC-POS District Collector, DA Assistant Secretary James Layug, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, led the examination of 58 containers which yielded more than 30,000 sacks of misdeclared refined sugar with an estimated value of P150 million.
Martin said a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) shall be issued against the subject containers for violation of Section 1400, in relation to Section 1113 (f) of the Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and Sugar Regulatory Authority and BOC Joint Memorandum Order No. 04-2002.
Meanwhile, the BOC also examined two containers of squid rings where they found several misdeclared assorted frozen meat products valued more or less P40 million.
“The BOC continues to maximize its intelligence resources and intensify enforcement measures to thwart all attempts of smuggling, especially those involving agricultural products that negatively impact our local farmers and businesses,” Rubio stressed.
Customs insiders said a WSD against the two containers with misdeclared frozen meat for violation of pertinent provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
“It has always been a priority of the BOC to protect local consumers against the health hazards posed by these illegally imported goods,” Rubio added. (Junex Doronio/Amado Inigo/MTVN)
