The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed a complaint against three people for allegedly falsifying import documents including certificates from the Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA).
Atty. Martini Cruz, executive officer of NBI-Anti Organized and Transnational Crime Division (AOTCD) identified the suspects as Ofelia Ollave, Jocelyn Amancio and Ruben Flores.
AFTA is a trade bloc agreement by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations supporting local manufacturing in all member countries. Holder of an AFTA certificate is granted preferential tariff concessions or discounts in the payment of taxes.
The raid was conducted after the Bureau of Customs (BoC) sought the help of the NBI after receiving information on the proliferation of blank importation and AFTA certificates in Recto, Manila.
The three were arrested in separate buy bust operations.
The NBI-AOCTD conducted an entrapment operation on Rizal Avenue on Jan. 7 that resulted in the arrest of Amancio and Flores after they delivered five AFTA documents which cost Php 4,000 each.
Meanwhile, Ollave was arrested in an entrapment operation last Feb. 7 at Isettan Recto after she received the balance of Php 52,500 inclusive of the marked money.
The NBI operatives seized from Ollave three AFTA documents with entries and 10 blank AFTA documents for a total price of Php 58,500./rga