BOC sues rice trader, Customs brokers for 'illegal' rice importation

Smuggling-related charges were filed against the owner of Medaglia De Oro Trading and licensed Customs brokers for allegedly importing rice without the necessary permits from the National Food Authority (NFA).

 

In an emailed statement Thursday, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it filed complaints against Emmanuel Santos, owner and proprietor of Medaglia De Oro, and customs brokers Denise Kathryn Rosaroso, Raquel Sildora Cabasag, Emilio Chio, Myrene Noynay Sollano, Gemma Garcia, Melvin Isagan, John Kevin Cisneros, Eduardo Borje III, and Kenneth Quial. 

 

A separate complaint against Santos and Customs brokers Rosemarie Sangalang Arciaga and Baltazar Ramirez will be filed on Friday.

 

The bureau said Medaglia De Oro imported more than 16,039 metric tons of rice from Thailand and Singapore in July and August last year through the ports of Manila, Cebu, Davao and Misamis Oriental.

 

Dutiable value of the imported rice is more than P205 million while market value is more than P641 million, according to BOC.

 

Medaglia De Oro has claimed private importers can import rice without securing a permit as the quantitative restrictions on rice imports under the World Trade Organization (WTO) expired in 2012, the bureau said.

 

However, BOC argued that the law states "only NFA can import rice, mandating public companies... to secure from NFA the import permit."

 

NFA regulates rice imports through quotas to prevent excessive and unquantifiable amounts of rice "to ensure fair competition and viability of the local rice industry," it added.

 

"Any sudden surges in imported rice would have catastrophic consequences on millions of farmers and our agriculture industry. It is for these reasons why the Philippine government has been requesting for special treatment of rice imports under the WTO for the past several years,” said Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla.

 

The Agriculture Department, according to BOC, reported the Philippines has achieved 96 percent rice sufficiency or equivalent to 18.44 million metric tons in 2013. – Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/VS, GMA News