THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday said it had discovered that bogus bidders have been participating in the auction of confiscated overstaying goods.
Port of Manila (POM) collector Rogel Gatchalian said the scheme was uncovered when he informed a supposed winning bidder of two container vans of sardines that were auctioned off for overstaying.
Gatchalian said a representative of the supposed winning bidder, Kai-Anya Foods Inc., informed the BOC that the company has not participated in any bidding for the sardines.
“We were surprised when we received said communication as we are not aware that we took part in any bidding on any items with the bureau. We, thereafter caused further verification and we confirmed that we indeed did not partake on such bidding,” the food company wrote in a two-page reply letter.
Upon verification, it was found out that a certain Nenita Biag misrepresented the company by forging and falsifying documents.
“We must stress that we did not execute any documents and they are evidently forged and/or falsified. Our company did not participate in the said bidding and we did not authorize this Nenita Biag or anyone to bid on any items in our behalf,” the letter said.
He said the BOC will cancel the auction for the sardines as Kai-Anya Foods pursue necessary charges against Biag.
Gatchalian said about 800 container vans are found overstaying at the POM, including the frozen sardines worth P1.97 million.
Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon has ordered an assessment of perishable overstaying goods at the port to determine if these are still fit for human consumption.
Among the goods being kept at the warehouses are hot cars, second hand tires, used clothes, flour, iron, canned goods, electrical wires, unclaimed balikbayan boxes, printers, cigarettes, batteries, plastic resin, tiles, textile and stuffed toys.
Some of the goods have pending cases before the courts, while are from previous failed biddings.
The BOC said it has to dispose off overstaying goods at the POM and Manila International Container Port to decongest the facilities on expectations that more shipments will arrive during the Christmas season.
