Customs exec seeks probe of missing cargo

An official of the Bureau of Customs on Tuesday called for an investigation into the alleged disappearance of nearly 600 containers carrying dutiable goods that were supposed to be forwarded to the port of Batangas.

In a July 4 memo to Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez, Port of Batangas (POB) District Collector Juan N. Tan said that of the 900 containers of dutiable goods that arrived at the Port of Manila and the Manila International Container Port (MICP), only 305 reached Batangas.

He said he had the documentary evidence—like boat notes and official tax receipts —to show this.

“Loss of any cargo in the custody of the bureau is a very serious matter that calls for immediate investigation,” Tan said.

Manila port officials earlier blamed their colleagues in Batangas for the disappearance of the containers, saying that all the 900 vans were transshipped to the Batangas port.

This was denied by Tan who said the Manila port officials’ statement that they had received all the containers showed that the containers “had been in their possession.”

“Hence, the burden of proof is on them to show that the containers were actually duly delivered (to POB) wharfinger Nelson Chavez or assistant wharfinger Romarico Tumbaga… by presenting the boat notes showing the receipt,” he said.