MANILA: The fifth rice importing firm being linked to alleged big-time rice smuggler Davidson Bangayan aka “David Tan” is facing smuggling charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Charged by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) was Starcraft International Trading Corporation and its responsible officers: Jeffrey Daradal, president; Eugene Pioquinto, Aveleo Godoy, Anna Orqueta, Brendel Daradal, and Jessie Bantula, members of the Board of Directors; and company representative Hanlie Solema.
Twelve Customs brokers were also charged, namely Denise Kathryn Rosaroso, John Kevin Cisneros, Emilio Chio, Eduardo Borje III, Rosemarie Arciaga, Gerald Villarosa, Jennifer Ann Reyes, Elbert Lusterio, Dianne Re Dizon-Tapia, Laila Silvestre, Francis Rudolph Forneste, and Kenneth Quail.
Customs Commissioner John Sevilla bared that Starcraft illegally imported over 45,000 metric tons of rice from Vietnam, Thailand, China, and Singapore, estimated at P1.8 billion from June to November 2013, via the Manila, Cebu, and Davao ports.
Sevilla said the firm was only allowed to import 1,176 metric tons through the Manila port by the National Food Authority, which means that Starcraft allegedly exceeded its Minimum Access Volume by over 3,700 percent.
Starcraft filed cases in court against the BOC, arguing that importers such as itself may import rice without the necessary permits, citing the expiration of quantitative restrictions on rice imports under the World Trade Organization (WTO).
However, the BOC argues that while negotiations are ongoing for the extension of the restrictions, Philippine laws must be sustained.
Aside from Starcraft, four other firms being linked to Bangayan by the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food during its legislative inquiry into rice smuggling in various ports nationwide, have also been charged before the DOJ, namely Bold Bidder, Silent Royalty, Intercontinental Grains Trading, Inc., and Medaglia De oro.
Last August, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed several complaints against Bangayan and his alleged cohorts for violations of the provision of the Revised Penal Code on monopolies and restraint of trade; the Commonwealth Act No 142 (An Act to Regulate the Use of Aliases), as amended by Republic Act No 6085; and bid-fixing (violations of the Government Procurement Act), still in connection with their alleged illegal activities in connection with the importation of rice to the Philippines.
