Sugar import mess claims first victims; 6 top Subic Port officials relieved

BUREAU of Customs acting commissioner, Yogi Filemon Ruiz, ordered the relief of top officials at the Port of Subic as the agency continues with its investigation on the alleged smuggling of sugar into the country.

In an order dated August 22, 2022, but released to the media only on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, Ruiz ordered the relief and the “temporary” reassignment to the Commissioner’s Office of the following:

District Collector Maritess Martin; Maita Sering Acevedo, deputy collector for assessment; Giovanni Ferdinand Aguillon Leynes, deputy collector for operations;

Belinda Fernando Lim, chief of assessment division; Vincent Mark Solamin Malasmas, Enforcement Security Service (ESS) commander; and Justice Roman Silvoza Geli, the local customs intelligence service (CIIS) supervisor.

“The recall of officials from the Bureau of Customs-Port of Subic is standard procedure while an investigation is being conducted,” said Ruiz in a brief statement to the media.

In another order, he also designated the following as the port’s officers in charge (OICs):

Atty. Willie Bajeta Sarmiento, district collector; Veronica Raagas Granados, deputy collector for assessment; Aileen Amada Tortoles, deputy collector for operations; Lesley Anne Nacario, chief, Assessment Division;

Jar Ar Pascual, Customs Police (ESS) district commander; and, Tomas Mendoza Geronimo; CIIS supervisor.

A press statement attributed to the Office of the Press Secretary claimed the relief of Martin and the other port officials was connected to the purported attempt last August 18, to “smuggle” thru Subic some 140,000 metric tons of sugar from Thailand equivalent to 7,000 metric tons using “recycled” import permit issued by the Sugar Regulatory Agency (SRA) on board the M/V Bangpakaew.

However, the SRA, according to a BOC official familiar with the investigation who declined to be named for the moment, confirmed that the importation was “legitimate” and that the permit issued was not “recycled,” adding they are waiting for the “official certification” from the SRA.

Ruiz himself declined to confirm the allegation that the import permit for the shipment was “recycled,” merely saying in his statement that the BOC “will not comment until after the investigation results are completed.”

He also appealed to the public and the media to allow the agency to conduct its investigation of the incident “properly, sincerely, and in silence.”

Victims of ‘power play?’

Waterfront observers however averred that Martin and her fellow Subic Port officials have become “victims” of the ongoing ‘power play’ among the political forces inside the Marcos administration who want to place their own “bata” in select juicy positions.

They noted that as a veteran Customs’ official of long experience and with a sterling record of apprehension of smuggled goods, Martin would have taken the initiative to alert and apprehend the sugar from Thailand had she known it was using a dubious import permit.

Last December 7, 2021, Martin caused the apprehension of smuggled sugar at the port worth some P16.7 million loaded into 14×20 containers.

A month earlier, on November 18, 2021, Martin also reported their apprehension of P66 million worth of smuggled red onions loaded in 22×40-footer vans (see also Pinoy Exposé, December 13, 2021).

In a period of one month this year (June to July 2022), the Port of Subic under Martin also reported to Ruiz the apprehension of smuggled cigarettes worth P253 million.

Aside from this, the Port of Subic under Martin has been consistent in overshooting its monthly assigned collection target topped by its overshooting its 2020 annual target as early as November (see also Pinoy Exposé, December 14, 2020).

At the time of her relief, Martin was also credited for steering the Port of Subic towards its formally gaining its ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certification, according to the BOC press statement last August 15, 2022.

Waterfront watchers averred that unable to find any reason to relieve Martin from her post, some Palace ‘Mandarins’ concocted the dubious claim of the “smuggled” sugar that landed at the port last August 18 as an excuse to force Ruiz to relieve her.

Sarmiento, they pointed out is closely identified with former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. “He (Sarmiento) has always been known at the BOC to be ‘close’ to President Arroyo,” the sources said.

Arroyo is a close political ally of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

However, another official familiar with the sudden change of Subic Port officials downplayed Sarmiento’s connection with Arroyo for his appointment at Subic.

The source stressed that it was Martin herself who recommended Sarmiento to the post as district collector, to assure the port’s stakeholders of “continuity” of policies.

The source pointed out that Sarmiento is Martin’s chief of staff at the time of her relief (updated August 24, 2022; 5:20 pm).