Biazon unveils P4 M seizure, eyes Customs house return

THE confiscation of P4 million worth of motorcycles and one speedboat and a dialogue with Cebu City Hall to reclaim the former Customs house marked the Cebu City visit of Customs chief Rufino Biazon yesterday.

In a press conference that coincided with the 126th founding anniversary of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Biazon commended the Cebu office for the July 25 seizure of cargo from Australia which was misdeclared as  “special effects.”

The container van consigned to a certain William T. Kupers yielded one Suzuki big bike, a Yamaha Virago motorcycle, one TMX dirt bike and one speedboat.

Meanwhile,  Biazon said he wanted to  pursue the  recovery of the  Customs House in Cebu which former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo converted to the Macalanang sa Sugbu during her term.

“If the Cebu city government’s concern is the structure’s preservation as a heritage site and a tourist attraction, we have no problem with that.  In fact, we are willing to sit down with the mayor and talk about it,” he said.

Biazon said he already asked the Palace about this and was  only waiting for a  response.

“Our existing office was  affected by the last earthquake and it would be unsafe to continue holding office there,” he said.

He said they will spend for the necessary renovations to accommodate tourists in the Customs House.

Biazon said in case the Cebu BOC district office would transfer to a new office, it should be located near a port.

The current BOC office is located at the Cebu Port area.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the BOC can rehabilitate their existing office. He wants to  retain the former Customs house  for  its heritage and outirsm value.

“I already met with Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa before I left (for South Korea).  I was told to do some documentation to bring it to his office so he can talk it with the President,” he said.

Cebu Custom chief Ronnie Silvestre said a warrant of seizure and detention was issued on the  P4  million shipment from Australia last week.

Silvestre said among the 78 cases filed by the BOC against suspect smugglers in the country, only one case was filed in Cebu.

He said this involved the importation of petrol products by Petronas Energy Philippines in Cebu, which passed through the ports of Cebu, Iloilo and the sub-port in Iligan.

The case covered 51 import entries with a dutiable value of P1.5 billion. Biazon said BOC is the “showcase of trade” in the world.

“It’s better to do business here if the service is efficient,” Biazon said. /Rhea Ruth V. Rosell and Edison delos Angeles with Argie Mae D. Lodovica, Palompon Institute of Technology Intern