Customs denies Cebu smuggling

CEBU CITY—The Bureau of Customs in Cebu on Tuesday denied that technical smuggling occurred involving imported steel shipments as reported in the Inquirer last week.

The Inquirer, in its March 16 issue, quoted a statement of the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (Pisi) and its member groups, claiming technical smuggling goes on unabated involving imported prime steel wire rod, which listed Joyland Industries Corp. as the importer.

Customs District Collector Ronnie Silvestre called the Pisi statement unfair since the shipment of Joyland was only tentatively released pending results of valuation that would be made by the Post Entry Audit Group (PEAG) of the Bureau of Customs.

In a statement furnished Inquirer, Silvestre said the shipment of Joyland was also referred to the Valuation and Classification Review Committee (VCRC) before it was released.

He said the practice of referring importation to the VCRC was meant to fast-track the release of goods, in line with the bureau’s policy and revenue targets.

Joyland also denied the report, saying it caused “so much humiliation and damage” to the company. Irene R. Sino Cruz, Inquirer Visayas