Customs broker names BOC officials who allegedly received bribe money

Customs broker Mark Taguba on Monday identified officials and personnel of the Bureau of Customs who allegedly received bribe money from him to facilitate the entry of smuggled goods into the country.

At the resumption of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs inquiry into the P6.4-billion worth of shabu illegally transported to the country, Taguba named individuals who supposedly benefited from the more than P27,000 bribe money.

Taguba was earlier granted legislative immunity by the House panel to allow him to disclose his knowledge on the alleged corruption at the bureau.

Among those Taguba named were Customs deputy commissioner Teddy Raval, Manila International Container Port (MCIP) district collector Vincent Maronilla, MCIP Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service district intelligence officer Teodoro Sagaral, a deceased Major Gutierrez, CIIS director Neil Estrella, Import and Assessment Service director Milo Maestrecampo, a certain Maita and Jayson.

LOOK: Names of those who allegedly received P27,000 bribe from Taguba. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/04uTzCBNqB

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) August 7, 2017

Taguba also named other individuals, but they were not present during the hearing.

During the hearing, Taguba went around the room to point fingers at those who allegedly received bribe, upon the encouragement of Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro.

The accused individuals, however, denied the allegations against them.

"I have not met Mr. Taguba prior to this meeting. Haven't talked or in person. Even during the start of these hearings, the power of the intelligence groups has been diluted since I assumed," Raval said.

"With that, I categorically and specifically deny the allegations of Mr. Taguba," he added.

Taguba earlier in the inquiry revealed that a certain "Jerry" has been texting him to meet and exchange money.

But Raval said he only has five staff and there is no Jerry in his office.

While admitting that they have already met before, Maronilla denied the accusations of Taguba.

"I don't authorize anyone to collect anything for the office of district collector," Maronilla said.

"If there is someone representing himself to be connected with the office, I welcome it, I'll investigate it, [but] I deny the allegations that my office is getting something to facilitate shipments. I also deny I have asked anyone to collect anything in my behalf," he added.

Estrella, meanwhile, expressed disappointed at the accusations against them.

"Kung may naging pagkukulang kami, we recognize those [because] we were really feeling the urgency... Pero yung akusahan kami, e una kong tanong, bakit pa namin hinuli yung shipment na ito?" he said.

"I categorically deny that I received money from Taguba. I categorically deny that I asked anyone to use my name to receive money. Mahihirapan po kaming bumawi sa reputasyon namin dito. I will just have to face it hanggang saan tayo makarating. I will face my accuser in the proper forum," he added.

Maestrecampo likewise denied the allegations, and felt that Taguba "already destroyed him."

"I am not receiving money from illicit activities. I'm contented with my sahod. What I can say, when I go back to BOC, I will step down from my appointed post. I will submit everything. Na-affect po yung pangyayari," he said.

"I can probably be a rebel, but I'm not a thief," he added, referring to his previous role in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny.

Sagaral, for his part, said that he has not faced any accusations against him in his 44 years of service until now.

"Nakakalungkot lang na sa aking 44 years na serbisyo, wala po akong naging kaso, ngayon lang ako naakusahan na ganito," he said.

"Handa akong humarap sa imbestigasyon. At sa natitira kong panahon sa Bureau, ay sana naman ma-clear ko ang pangalan ko," he added. —JST, GMA News