BUREAU of Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio for a moment reverted into his former self as a seasoned customs field operative as he personally handled the inspection of a huge volume of smuggled refined sugar at the Port of Subic.
Last April 10, the customs chief personally witnessed the opening of 14X20-footer container vans loaded with refined sugar from Vietnam valued at P28.728 million declared as “Sweet Mixed Powder” by the consignee who, however, was not named.
A laboratory examination by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), however, confirmed that the shipment’s ‘sucrose content’ exceeded 64 percent, thereby classifying the shipment as “refined sugar.”
Rubio was earlier informed by the Intelligence Group’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (IG-CIIS) and decided to take a personal handle of the situation.
It would be the first time since August 2022 when a shipload of sugar from Thailand—14,000 metric tons– was apprehended at the Port of Subic, a scandal that eventually resulted to Executive Secretary Atty. Vic Rodriguez being forced out of office and the relief of Subic port officials (Pinoy Exposé, August 24, 2022).
District Collector Marlon Fritz Broto, MNSA, on March 28, had issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) prior to the physical inspection by the customs chief.
Commissioner Rubio emphasized that the operation supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure food security, uphold trade integrity, and combat agricultural smuggling. “This seizure demonstrates our firm resolve to prevent the entry of misdeclared and unregulated goods.
“We remain aligned with the President’s call to protect consumers, support legitimate businesses, and safeguard the nation’s agricultural interests through strengthened inter-agency cooperation,” he stated.
MOA to boost trade, BOC role at Free Port
On the same day of his inspection, Commissioner Rubio also signed a ‘Memorandum of Agreement’ (MOA) with the chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chair and administrator, Engr. Eduardo Jose Aliño.
The BOC said the MOA between the parties is “focused on optimizing customs operations, encouraging investment inflows, and reinforcing strategic oversight of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
Witnessing the ceremony for the BOC are Collector Broto and Deputy Commissioner for Assessment and Operations (AOCG) Atty. Vener Baquiran.
The agreement reflects the long-standing cooperation between the two agencies, acknowledging the strategic value of BOC’s continued presence in the Freeport.
Under the agreement, the BOC ensures the proper maintenance of its facilities, compliance with environmental standards, and secure management of confiscated goods, while SBMA provides access to properties vital to customs functions.
The BOC, which has been in the zone for more than 18 years, serves as a critical function in revenue collection, trade facilitation, and border protection in the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone (SSEZ), as established under Republic Act No. 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992.
“The Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Bureau of Customs not only represents a 25-year, rent-free tenure within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone but most importantly, it is a powerful, resounding affirmation of the enduring, symbiotic partnership that binds our two institutions,” the customs chief noted.
“We are confident that this partnership will lead to a surge in trade volumes, the attraction of new investments, and a substantial boost in revenue collection that will fund our government’s projects and uplift the lives of every Filipino,” he added.
Aliño, in his remarks, underscored the importance of the MOA, stressing the mutual goal of the BOC and the SBMA to develop a new, modern Port of Subic (POS) building, and stated,
“The impact or benefit of a new POS building extends far beyond the infrastructure itself. We are confident that, upon completion, this facility will enhance services and provide greater convenience for both Bureau of Customs clients and pre-port stakeholders.”