Rubio orders probe of alleged ‘recycling’ of seized vape products

On Jul 31, 2024

File photo of Bureau of Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio (center) and Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Juvymax Uy (left), inspecting the intercepted shabu at the Pair Cargo Warehouse, NAIA, from Guinea, West Africa, valued at more than P400 million, March 20, 2023 (photo credit: BOC-PIAD).

BUREAU of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio directed the Intelligence Group (IG) to conduct a “comprehensive fact-finding investigation” over the claim of a purported anti-corruption watchdog that confiscated illegally shipped e-cigarette (vape) products are being pilfered and re-sold back to the local market.

Rubio’s order to Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence (DCI) Juvymax Uy aims to verify the validity of the allegation and to identify any BOC personnel involved, along with their individual and collective roles in the matter. The investigation will also assess any potential administrative and criminal liabilities associated with these claims.

Uy was also instructed to submit weekly status reports and a detailed fact-finding report within 30 days of receipt of the order.

An article at the Daily Tribune last July 29, 2024, written by Jing Villamente and quoting Citizen Crime Watch (CCW) president, Diego Magpantay, claimed that Intelligence Officer (IO) 3 Paul Pacunayen, head of the IG’s Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD) and Port of Manila (POM) district collector Rizalino Torralba, have been issuing “safekeeping orders” in the form of mission orders (MOs), to transfer the seized vape products to their preferred condemnation “facility,” namely, RCU Condemnation (RCU Waste Management Facility) based in Valenzuela City. The article further claimed the value of the vape products at some P500 million.

The article further claimed that the order issued by Toralba is without the knowledge of Rubio, triggering fear that the confiscated items are being pilfered and re-sold back in the local market.

In his statement released last July 30, the customs chief also squelched speculations that the P11 billion worth of counterfeit goods it seized last month in Binondo, Manila (see link here), would also end up in the local market.

“These goods will undergo the appropriate seizure and forfeiture procedures in accordance with the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and other relevant regulations,” Rubio said.

The BOC earlier announced that the P11 billion Binondo hoard would be destroyed in compliance with the directive of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22.