BOC discovers P519M worth of imported rice in Bulacan warehouses

Operatives of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Wednesday inspected several warehouses in Bulacan and found an estimated P519 million worth of rice grains and “palay.” 

The inspection of warehouses in Wakas, Bocaue and San Juan, Balagtas, both in Bulacan were part of BOC's efforts to curtail rice smuggling.

Found in the warehouses were 154,000 sacks of imported rice grains and 60,000 sacks of “palay.”

“Yesterday, we had a sectoral meeting with the President, who gave a clear directive about how we can help stop the rising cost of rice in the market,” said Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio.

“So, this is our answer to that order. We have just discovered four warehouses storing rice grains and palay, and if the owners of these warehouses fail to show proper documents that they legitimately imported the subject sacks of rice and paid correct duties and taxes thereon, then we will take immediate legal action and confiscate the items here,” Rubio added.

The Customs said the 154,000 sacks of imported rice grains came from Vietnam and Pakistan and have an estimated value of P431 million, while the 60,000 sacks of “palay” are valued at P88 million.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez joined the BOC during the inspection.

"Iisa-isahin natin yan kung sino nag-iimport at sino nagho-hoard at sino profiteer. Kasi economic sabotage yan, hindi bailable yan kaya mag ingat kayo nagbabantay kami," said Romualdez in Jun Veneracion's report on 24 Oras. 

Currently, the warehouses were temporarily padlocked and sealed as inventory of the imported goods stored there is being conducted by the assigned Customs examiners.

The managers of the warehouses, meanwhile, deny doing anything illegal.

"'Yung palay talaga pag kailangan, gigilingin, pero pag walang buyer 'di puwede gilingin, kasi ma-stock, kukutuhin lang din yun," said Eusibeo Delarma, warehouse manager of Gold Rush 2.

"We are open naman, wala kaming tinatago. May dokumento kami, lahat po ito ay bagong dating na talaga nirerelease namin," said Alma Esteban, chief operating officer of Mutya Rice Mill.  

The visitorial and inspection authority of the BOC is in accordance with Chapter 2, Section 224 of Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), according to the Customs.

Marcos earlier tasked the BOC to strengthen their operations against hoarding and illegal importation of rice.

The President's order to beef up operations came after three warehouses in Bulacan were shut down following the confiscation of P500 million worth of suspected smuggled rice products.

Tthe BOC is eyeing to inspect 20 other warehouses in Metro Manila and Central Luzon reported to contain thousands more bags of alleged smuggled rice.

In his second State of the Nation Address, Marcos gave a stern warning against smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products, saying that their days are already numbered.

Marcos said smugglers and hoarders are the reason behind the rising prices of agricultural products, including fertilizers used by farmers. —VAL, GMA Integrated News