INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Businessman Alberto “Bert” Lina was appointed commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) during the term of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005.
His stint in the bureau lasted only five months after he, together with nine other executive officials (dubbed “Hyatt 10”), resigned to withdraw support from Arroyo in the aftermath of the “Hello Garci” scandal which exposed her alleged manipulation of the 2004 national election.
His apparent display of “holier-than-thou” attitude on his resignation was condemned by some pro-Arroyo lawmakers who accused him of corruption.
In July 2005, former Representatives Prospero Pichay, Marcelino Libanan and Monico Puentevella of Surigao del Sur, Eastern Samar and Bacolod City, respectively, bared an allegedly anomalous P100-million contract with BOC per year of LGC Logistics Inc., a company incorporated by Lina and former Revenue Commissioner Guillermo Parayno, who was also part of Hyatt 10.
Pichay et al. said that although Lina and Parayno had claimed to have already divested themselves of their interests in LGC Logistics, Lina should have never accepted the top BOC post considering that at least 18 Lina-owned companies continued to do business with the BOC.
‘Conflict of interest’
Pichay said Lina and Parayno then exhibited “clear conflict of interest” and plotted to unseat Arroyo to cover up the anomaly.
But Lina said he had divested from LGC Logistics before accepting the customs’ portfolio, and dared Pichay to produce documents against him.
Documents provided to the Inquirer showed that the BOC issued Customs Administrative Order 2-2005 containing the rules and regulations governing the use of LGC Logistics Inc., as an inland clearance depot on Feb. 10, 2005, a few days before the compulsory retirement of former Customs Commissioner George Jereos, and days after it was announced that Lina would be the incoming commissioner.
The said memorandum was patterned after a draft submitted by LGC Logistics which established a Customs-Peza Clearance Office, converting it into a one-stop shop and thus giving special treatment and monopoly to LGC in the Peza-Calabarzon area, to the detriment of other public warehouses, said Pichay.
Pichay said the documents detailing the deal were furnished him in June 2005 by a disgruntled BOC personnel who also revealed that Lina and his cargo handling and customs brokerage businesses were allegedly enjoying “preferential treatment” with regards shipment clearances.
A check with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed that Lina is board chair of LGC Logistics Inc. as indicated on its general information statement filed in April 2014. Other officers include Parayno, Sylvia Lina, Alfredo David and Marlon Alagao (directors), Rudy Fulo (president), Geraldine Marie Paloma (corporate secretary/director) and Antonio Tañada (treasurer).—Inquirer Research
Sources: Inquirer Archives and Securities and Exchange Commission