BoC files P4.1-billion smuggling case against oil firm

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Customs on Thursday filed a P4.1-billion smuggling case at the Department of Justice against three executives of an oil company suspected of importing oil products without paying the appropriate taxes to the government.

In what could be his last act, Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez led the filing of the case against Jetti Petroleum Inc. president Joselito Tibayan, broker and attorney-in-fact Darwin Suico and broker Dario Amolata.

“It was clear that Jetti could not have succeeded in pulling off this caper without the connivance and indispensable cooperation of corrupt customs officials and employees,” Alvarez said at a news briefing.

Alvarez said the oil company failed to submit within the required 30-day period import entries for the oil products it brought to the country from Singapore between June 2010 and June this year.

Alvarez said Jetti was the sixth oil firm charged with technical smuggling since he took over the helm at the Bureau of Customs last year.