Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Despite House probe 10 40-footer vans found to contain smuggled vehicles
THE Office of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), through the Customs X-ray Inspection Project Office, has alerted 10 40-footer container vans in Cebu, which were found to contain smuggled vehicles.
The 10 40-footer container vans will be opened on Feb. 21 by Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales and lawyer Ma. Lourdes V. Mangaoang, chief of the X-ray inspection project.
According to the alert order issued by Mangaoang, two of the vans were consigned to RCY Trading with no fixed address in Cebu.
Mangaoang said that based on the policy of the BOC under Morales, used vehicles are not allowed for release because this violates Executive Order (EO) 156 issued by President Arroyo in 2002 to protect the local car industry.
If a vehicle is a right-hand-drive (RHD), it is not only a violation to EO 156 but also a violation of Republic Act 8506, which prohibits the importation, driving and registration of RHD vehicles.
The two other vans are consigned to Meas Trader and Trex Eve Auto, both with no fixed addresses also.
Another two vans are consigned to Tiger Car Surplus and to SVC Trading Corp. Both Tiger and SVC also have no fixed addresses.
Lawyer Edward Campos, chief of the Run after the Smugglers (Rats), said that based on their records, RCY Trading, Meas Trader and Trex Eve Auto are not in their list of accredited importers.
The owners of the two other container vans are still being traced.
The contents of the container vans were discovered after these were x-rayed in the presence of the customs examiner and wharfinger, the overall custodian of shipments at the Cebu International Port (CIP).
The newly seized vehicles will add to the hundreds of seized smuggled vehicles now stored and lined up at the customs yard at CIP, which was designated by the Cebu Port Authority.
The old seizures were already reported by Morales to the House Committee on Good Government during the hearing of the alleged rampant vehicle smuggling in Cebu last Feb. 13.
The first hearing was in December and the second hearing was last Feb. 6. However, it was noted by Mangaoang that smuggled vehicles still continue to arrive in Cebu, hence the latest apprehension. (EOB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 19, 2008 issue)
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