Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said calls for his removal from office as a result of the missing containers were “unjust” and “undeserved.”
In a statement on Wednesday, Alvarez said some legislators failed to acknowledge that he was the one who exposed the missing containers. Alvarez also ordered the concerned officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to explain the discrepancy in the transhipment data long before the start of the congressional inquiry into the matter.
Some legislators have called for Alvarez’s removal as a result of the missing containers. Out of a total of 2,219 containers that arrived at the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port (MICP), only 309 containers reached their destination in the Batangas Port.
Believing that the case of the missing containers could just be the tip of the iceberg, Alvarez ordered the BOC’s Post-Entry Audit Group to conduct a nationwide audit on all transshipments, including those of past years.
Alvarez also now plans a complete ban on transhipment cargoes on consumption entries. This would not, however, include those bound for export-processing zones and customs bonded warehouses.
Alvarez has relieved 16 customs personnel because of the issue missing-cargo case. They included MICP Deputy Collector for Operations Ramon Hernandez, Pier Inspection Division (PID) Chief Raymund Cabigon, and acting Wharfingers Samsodin Dianalan, and PID Officer Otto Panondiongan. From those at the Port of Batangas, Alvarez relieved Deputy Collector for Operations Rey Avelino, PID Chief Felix Embalsado, Wharfingers Nelson Chavez and his assistant Romarico Tumbaga.
From the Port of Manila, the relieved officers were Deputy Collector for Operations Jose Tabanda, PID Chief Gerardo Macatangay, and Wharfingers Pandi Hanji Nasser and Edgardo Habacon.
Customs guards Alfonso Reyes and Eduardo Alberto, both of the Port of Manila, and Emerlita Garcia and Gil Senen Gamil of MICP were also relieved.
Earlier, Alvarez also placed Batangas Port District Collector John Tan on floating status.
According to an initial report of Customs Investigation Chief Fernandino Tuason, there appeared to be conspiracy among the 16 BOC personnel and 10 private persons to carry out the scheme to defraud the government.
Alvarez said the BOC filed 42 smuggling cases in the last 13 months with claims totaling P53 billion. President Aquino ordered the revenue agencies, such as the BOC and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, to file at least one smuggling case every week.
“In between these fortnightly filings, our agency’s revitalized campaign against smuggling had resulted in the seizure of more than P2 billion worth of assorted commodities that were either misdeclared, undervalued or misclassified by their importers,” Alvarez said.
