‘Technically-smuggled’ solar panels seized at Cebu

THE Port of Cebu announced the seizure of 470 panels of brand-new solar modules from China worth P2.6 million for undervaluation and misdeclaration, two forms of ‘technical smuggling’ to evade the payment of the correct duties and taxes to the government.

District collector Charlito Martin Mendoza, in a belated report to Bureau of Customs (BOC) commissioner, Rey Leonardo Guerrero, said he ordered the seizure last September 7, 2021, after the importer’s representative, who was not named, made conflicting statements, first by declaring the modules as “used” that would mean lower valuation and taxation and next, as “brand-new” that would no longer require an import permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

It was also found that the shipment was “grossly undervalued” by at least 155 percent, based on the current reference value for such commodity that resulted to more than P190,000.00 in the assessed taxes and duties.

Mendoza cited the consignee for violation of Section 1113 in relation to Section 1400 RA 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act).