MANILA: The Bureau of Customs on Monday announced the seizure of 45,000 metric tons of misdeclared fuel oil worth P700 million loaded in foreign oil tankers M/T Alpine Magnolia and M/T Malolos docked at the vicinity of Harbor Bulk Terminal here.
Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said the fuel oil was declared as industrial oil on board the oil tankers with Marshall island/Majuro Registry that arrived last December 14 after a two-day voyage from Singapore.
Both the cargo and carriers were seized on Saturday through a warrant of seizure and detention issued by District Collector Julius Premediles of the Port of Limay. It was considered to be the biggest haul for the BOC during the last six months.
“The oil shipment was fraudulently imported without the required Port Load Survey Report and with inconsistencies in documentation,” Faeldon said. Zaldy Almoraide, deputy district collector for operations in Limay Port, said the oil tanker is docked along Manila Bay in Barangay Kitang Dos, Limay town under the custody of the Port of Limay.
Newly appointed Deputy Customs Commissioner Edward James Dy Buco said the M/T Alpine Magnolia and the M/T Malolos that were carrying the smuggled fuel were also seized.
“In the afternoon of December 15, 2016, M/T Malolos was seen to have shipsided with M/T Alpine Magnolia and discharging of fuel started. This was done without lodgment or filing of entry. No duties and taxes were paid. This is pure smuggling in violation of Customs laws and regulations,” Buco who heads the BOC’s Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group, added.
The apprehended cargo was consigned to S.L. Harbor Bulk Terminal Corp., Buco said, adding that the BOC was now readying charges against the Bataan-based company.
He reported to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd that under Premediles’ helm, revenue collections in the port of Limay substantially improved, collecting about 60 percent of its P2.5 billion target for December.
The BOC recently announced that it had exceeded its collection target of P36.45 billion by 12 percent in November, as revenues reached P40.239 billion. The amount is 27 percent higher than actual collections of P29.061 billion in the same period last year.
“Pursuant to the instructions of the President to fight corruption and all forms of criminality, the BOC will not stop in working hard to fight corruption and smuggling, especially of significant products such as oil and agricultural goods,” Buco said in his report to Dominguez.
