Customs examiners/appraisers masasabit sa rice importation

BUREAU of Customs Assessors and Examiners are now in hot water regarding the issue of rice smuggling.

Pinaiimbestigahan kasi ng Senado kay Customs Commissioner Sunny Sevilla ang lahat ng pumasok na bigas sa nakaraang dalawang taon at panagutin ang mga taong pumirma at nagproseso sa import entry nito.

My question is why and what did they do wrong?

‘E hindi naman siguro sila mga gago at tanga to sign import entries without proper documentation specially the issue on rice importation.

Ang tanong, kailan ba dumating at nailabas ang sinasabing bigas in question?      Ito ba ay during the expiration/lapse of the Quantitative Restriction (QR) or after?

The said agreement expired last June of 2012, that requires an IMPORT PERMIT (IP)  before releasing and processing. And because of this issue the customs examiner concerned decided to ask for a legal opinion on the expired Quantitative Restriction so that the shipment won’t cause delay for their release  and imposed 50% tariff rating.

But now, they are facing charges of smuggling for violating a domestic law despite the lapse of the agreement.

Sila pa ngayon ang inimbestigahan, to give their reason why it was released despite their understanding the rule of  Law of GATT-WTO agreement.

Who among the Customs official understand this law? Mayroon ba?

Aba, kung meron nakaaalam nang mabuti ng batas na ito ay dapat tulungan at ipaliwanag na walang kasalanan ang mga nakapirma sa import entry ng mga bigas.

As per my understanding, these Customs examiners and appraisers has no  intention to violate our domestic law regarding the issuance of NFA import permit because it is no longer required.

Paano ngayon ‘yan?

Ricky “Tisoy” Carvajal