Ruiz sees ‘stronger cases’ versus agri smugglers

BUREAU of Customs acting commissioner, Yogi Filemon Ruiz, assured stakeholders and the public that the Marcos administration is serious in its campaign against smuggling, particularly of agricultural products.

At his second press conference this Wednesday, August 10, 2022, since assuming the top customs post last July 25, 2022, Ruiz said he had just come from a meeting with his “counterpart,” Department of Justice (DOJ) Jesus Crispin Remulla, where they discussed how both agencies can further strengthen their cooperation, especially in the area of investigation and prosecution of smuggling cases.

“We want stronger cases against smugglers (of agricultural products). Gusto ko talaga makaranas silang ‘maghimas’ ng rehas,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz made the statement in reference to a Senate report last April, which noted that while the BOC has filed smuggling cases against agricultural smuggling, only 3 actually reach the trial stage while one suspect was even granted bail by the court.

Recalling President Marcos Jr.’s ‘marching order’ to him, Ruiz said the President’s instruction was short but clear: no smuggling of guns and illegal drugs and the “eradication” of agricultural smuggling.

The present arrangement calls for the BOC to file cases of smuggling against erring importers and customs brokers thru the ‘BOC Action Team Against Smugglers’ (BATAS), a special unit under the Revenue Collection and Monitoring Group (RCMG).

Official data showed that from January to August 7, 2022, the BOC has already recorded 66 cases of seizures of agricultural products with an estimated value of P701. 82 million.

In addition, the BOC, for the same period, has already filed 25 criminal cases before the DOJ against 71 unscrupulous individuals composed of importers, exporters, and customs brokers for unlawful importation and exportation of agricultural products with a total dutiable value of P186.98 million and total duties and taxes amounting to P76 million.

Ruiz added that he has also approved the creation of a special examination area for all shipments of agricultural products to be called the ‘ACEA’ (agricultural commodity examination area’), which is to be a separate, specialized area from the ‘DEA’ (designated examination area) where all shipments subject to customs physical inspection are brought.

Ruiz said boosting their ‘border protection’ mandate is the cooperation being offered to the agency by various stakeholders.

Last August 4, 2022, Ruiz met via video teleconference with the League of Associations of La Trinidad Vegetables to discuss measures to suppress agricultural smuggling that heavily affects local farmers.

On Tuesday, August 9, 2022, Ruiz also got the support of the United Sugar Producers Federation (UNiFED), thru its president, Manuel Lamata. UNiFED is the biggest sugar bloc in the country.

Edgardo Lomanog Jr, chief of the sugar anti-smuggling organization, likewise expressed full cooperation with the BOC under Ruiz in addressing the problem of sugar smuggling during a courtesy call.

In a separate meeting last August 2, Ruiz also received the leaders of the BOC Employees Association (Bocea) where both sides agree to work together to address the employees’ concerns, especially on the issue of their welfare and benefits.

Seized cigarettes turned over to BOC

Meanwhile the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) based in Cebu and the local police of Picong, Lanao del Sur, turned over to the Bureau of Customs smuggled cigarettes they apprehended in their respective areas for custody and proper disposition.

In a statement last August 9, 2022, the PGC last August 3, 2022, turned over to the Port of Cebu smuggled cigarettes worth some P2 million that they intercepted last August 1 loaded on a wing van on board a ferry from Dapitan, Zamboanga at the Mainit Port, Oslob Cebu.

The items, consisting of 229 boxes of ‘United’ cigarettes were found mixed in a shipment of boxes of sardines, were not declared in the bill of lading and no documents were presented to support the legitimacy of the transport of the cigarettes.

On the other hand, the Picong Municipal Police Station, thru its acting chief of police, P/Lt. Reagan Yap Adap, turned over to the Port of Iligan 20 boxes of smuggled cigarettes last August 4, 2022 valued at some P200,000.

The cigarettes, branded as ‘President,’ were seized at Brgy. Biosong, Picong, Lanao del Sur.

Sub-port Collector Nasrudin D. Guro led the receipt of the illicit cigarettes together with the Enforcement and Security Service Sub-port of Iligan and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency representatives.

The seized goods will be returned to the BOC-ESS-Cagayan De Oro District Office for proper disposal.