A lawyer has urged his cellmate, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Nicanor E. Faeldon, to investigate the problem of cement smuggling and to file charges against those behind it. In a news briefing on Wednesday, lawyer Argee Guevarra said he has written Faeldon to formally seek an investigation into cement smuggling, which he claimed could involve a dozen domestic companies.
He said these companies should be subjected by the BOC to “exhaustive investigation,” as official records would show these firms were able to declare very low freight charges of $8 per metric ton when the prevailing charges for similar and other shipments ranged from $19 to $22.90.
Guevarra said the potential revenue losses of government for the year because of the undervaluation of cement freight charges could run up to P4 billion.
“We have submitted these to Commissioner Faeldon and urged him to go through all official records of the agency. We know that this is just the tip of the iceberg because our initial submissions may only form part of the bigger scheme, but enough to establish prima facie evidence to warrant the filing of cases of smuggling,” Guevarra said. Pending the outcome of the investigation, he said he is giving way to Faeldon to name the companies involved. The lawyer disclosed that he and Faeldon are far from just mere acquaintances, because they became prison mates for mutiny charges in the past.
Guevarra claimed that he merely wanted to help Faeldon in pursuing good governance and stopping illegal activities in the BOC.
“We will leave no stone unturned in the issue of cement smuggling. And just like in the rice smuggling, we are determined to file the necessary criminal charges against those responsible,” Guevarra said.