Sixteen customs officials have been ordered relieved while the Bureau of Customs investigates the “disappearance” of nearly 2,000 container vans with dutiable goods destined for the port of Batangas.
The order issued by Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez involved officials from the Manila International Container Port (MICP), and the ports of Manila, Batangas and Davao.
Legislators earlier called for an investigation into the reported disappearance of 1,910 container vans from January to May.
The container vans were reportedly consigned to LCN Trading, Sea Eagle Trading and Moncelian Enterprise and loaded with P2 billion worth of taxable items such as plastic resins, household goods, and textiles for re-export.
Ordered relieved were Ramon Hernandez Jr., acting deputy collector for operations at the MICP; Raymund Cabigon, acting chief of piers and inspection division; customs operations officer Otto Panondiongan; and security guards Samsodin Dianalan and Gil Senen Gamil; and acting security guard Emerlita Garcia;
Also relieved were Jose Tabanda, acting deputy collector for operations; Gerardo Macatangay, chief of piers and inspection division; acting wharfinger Pandi Hadji Nasser; wharfinger Edgardo Habacon; security guard Alfonso Reyes; and messenger Eduardo Alberto.
The officials from the port of Batangas were Felix Embasado, chief of port operations division; Nelson Chavez, acting chief of the port utilization unit; and warehouseman Romarico Tumbaga.
Reynaldo Avelino, acting chief of the law division of the port of Davao, has also been ordered relieved.