Rice smuggling rife during my watch–Biazon

Former Customs chief Ruffy Biazon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Former Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon does not dispute Deputy Commissioner Agaton Teodoro Uvero’s assertion that rice smuggling was rampant during his term, particularly in 2013.

Biazon, however, pointed out the basis for Uvero’s statement was merely “anecdotal evidence.”

In a text message to the Inquirer on Thursday, Biazon said: “As a matter of record, the bureau during my time regularly intercepted smuggled rice and we proceeded to file charges against those involved.”

Pork barrel scam

“Our seizure of smuggled rice by the shipload and even thousands of containers in one count is undeniable material evidence of our efforts against rice smuggling,” Biazon added.

Biazon, who resigned after being linked to the P10-billion pork barrel scam, recalled that his “categorical instruction to port collectors was to prioritize their operations against smuggled rice.”

“There is no denying that (the campaign against smuggling) is a continuing war that customs is fighting,” he said.

Biazon reiterated his call on the current administration at the Bureau of Customs to implement what he called “import data reconciliation,” which requires the documentation of shipments of imported goods at their ports of origin.

“One of the initiatives that were left hanging after my departure (in December) was the implementation of the Containerized Cargo Clearance system, which is similar to the pre-shipment inspection of the past,” he said.

“The current BOC can pursue that initiative of mine to effect reforms in the system and break the modus operandi employed by smugglers for decades,” he said.

‘Told you so’

He said that “relying only on personnel changes to reform customs will not lead to an irreversible, institutionalized and sustainable reform program.”

Biazon said he was “glad to see that at the Senate hearing (early this week), Uvero was echoing that as well, consistent with what I’ve been saying all along.”

During the Senate hearing, Uvero, who heads the BOC assessment and operations coordinating group, reported that last year some 2,000 container vans packed with 50,000 metric tons of rice were smuggled into the country every week.

At the hearing initiated by Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara on reforming the graft-ridden customs bureau, Uvero said the massive rice smuggling was stopped last October, when the new BOC leadership appointed by President Aquino began to assume the helm at the agency.

Angara is chair of the Senate ways and means committee.

Uvero said the top “landing sites” for smuggled rice were the ports of Davao, Cebu and Manila.

This practice, however, has been stopped, “based on data,” he added.

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