The Bureau of Customs on Thursday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) four smuggling cases against two individuals and two companies as part of its campaign to boost government revenues. BOC Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said the agency filed cases against: Lucia Chicco, a businesswoman based in Angeles City, for illegal importation of firearms; Kristofferson Manalo, a private broker for unlawful importation of compact-disc replicating machines and accessories; Goldrich International Exchange for facilitating the entry of unlawfully imported goods; and Kornets International Co. Ltd. for bringing in counterfeit products to the Philippines. Alvarez recounted that Chicco tried to clear a 40-footer container van containing household goods and personal effects, which arrived at the Manila International Container Port. Upon examination, however, BOC officials found assorted rifles and ammunition, two revolvers, six pistols, and two safety deposit boxes containing assorted guns, he added. Aside from guns and ammunition, BOC authorities also found in the container one used 2003 model Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a used 1983 Kawasaki motorcycle, and a used 1999 Plymouth sedan.
Unlawful importation of CD replicating machines
The BOC filed a case against Kristofferson Manalo — a broker of logistics firm Kintetsu World Express — for unlawful importation of assorted units of compact-disc replicating machines and accessories, Alvarez said. “The entire shipment was seized and the broker was charged with unlawful importation, because the machines were brought in without the required permit, clearance, and license from the Optical Media Board," he said. The four units of replicating machines, various spare parts, and accessories carry a dutiable value of P280 million, according to the Customs commissioner. In the case of Goldrich International, the bureau filed a case against the company for being “a bogus business enterprise that was created mainly for the purpose of securing Customs accreditation and [for] facilitating the entry of unlawfully imported goods to the damage and prejudice of the government." Between October 2009 and July 2010, Goldrich International regularly imported various products that were declared in 269 import entries with a dutiable value of P80.9 million and taxes amounting to P16.9 million.
BOC officials said the 269 import entries were worth at least P1.3 billion. Alvarez said the business couldn’t be located in its listed address in Paranaque City. Imitation Nivea and L'Oreal
He also said the BOC filed charges against Kornets International for allegedly bringing counterfeit products into the country. “A container filled with cosmetic hardware and electronic products consigned to Kornets were abandoned by the company after the shipment was ordered by the BOC to undergo 100-percent examination and inventory." The assorted hardware and electronic products were worth at least P3 million, the BOC said. Among the imitation products Kornets International had imported into the Philippines include those of the Unilever Philippines, Nivea, and L’Oreal. With the filing of smuggling cases, Alvarez vowed that he would make “smuggling unprofitable" for smugglers. The bureau is also investigating the possible involvement of BOC officials in the operation of smuggling syndicates, Alvarez said. The country’s second largest revenue-generating agency was tasked by the Aquino administration to collect P280.7 billion for the year. As of end-October, the BOC collected P213.5 billion. — With Sophia Dedace/JE/VS,
