Traders charged in alleged smuggling of P33 million worth of sugar

The Bureau of Customs on Thursday filed charges against officials and employees of two private companies for allegedly smuggling P33 million worth of sugar earlier this year.

The shipment was misdeclared as bitumen—an oil based substance used for road surfacing and roofing.

Smuggling raps were filed against Eunkyoung Son, president and CEO of Rainbow Holdings Inc.; Soon Seung Joon, senior adviser; Diosdado Serbio Jr., executive vice president; Rolando Ambrosio, corporate financial officer; Kathleen May Uy, corporate secretary; and several still identified individuals.

Also charged were Trisho General Merchandise owner Patricia Manahan Ong, TGM licensed customs broker Cleth Jay Bacay, and several John and Jane Does.

They were charged for violating Section 3601(Unlawful Importation) in relation to Section 101 (Prohibited Importation) of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP); Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Rules and Regulations and Joint Memorandum Order No. 4002; and Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code (falsification by private individuals and use of falsified documents).

The case involved 21 container vans consigned to RHI which arrived between July 29 and August 21, and one container van that entered the country on May 15.

The containers arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and were declared as bitumen. They were instead found to contain refined sugar. -NB, GMA News