Comm. Rubio strikes hard vs. smuggling

NEWLY appointed Bureau of Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio demonstrated his administration is up to the task in combatting smuggling and his experience as a veteran intelligence officer not to be tested after the BOC announced the seizure of assorted smuggled agricultural products worth over P240 million barely a week after his assumption to the top customs post.

On Friday, February 17, 2023, Rubio, accompanied by Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy and Manila International Container Port (MICP) district collector Arnoldo Famor, led the opening of five container vans from China and Hongkong that yielded smuggled refined sugar and cigarettes valued at over P90 million.

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-MICP (CIIS-MICP) under Alvin Enciso earlier recommended for the issuance of Alert Orders (AOs) after receiving derogatory information about the shipments, 3 of which were from Hong Kong and the other 2, from China.

Enciso, in his report to Uy, said the containers arrived at the port between January 5, 2023, and February 12, 2023, a day before Rubio formally assumed the post of customs commissioner.

Prior to his appointment, Rubio rose from the ranks to become an intelligence chief at the MICP and then as bureau director for port operations service that gave him a deep insight on all areas of customs operations.

“These contrabands threaten the economy and put Filipino consumers at risk. I’d like to assure everyone that we are equally relentless in our efforts to keep our borders secure from these smuggling activities,” Rubio said in a statement to the press.

For his part, Uy said the agency had been “actively monitoring” information about shipments that possibly contain smuggled goods in an intensified effort to curb the entry of contraband and illegal products into the country.

“We cannot stress it enough: it is unlawful to bring products into the Philippines without the proper permits. By now, these unscrupulous groups should understand the severity of our non-stop campaign against their illegal activities,” said the bemedaled and highly respected former Philippine Army general.

On the same day, Rubio signed several ‘LOAs’ (letters of authority) for the conduct of visit and inspection of 24 warehouses in Metro Manila suspected of storing smuggled agricultural products.

Swiftly acting on Rubio’s directive, the CIIS team headed by Enciso, along with elements from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), swooped down on the warehouses—in Tondo, Malabon City and Binondo—where they discovered suspected smuggled fresh onions and garlic worth more than P150 million.

An earlier advisory by the BOC stated that the hoard in Malabon City alone was estimated at P95 million.

The owners of the warehouses would be given sufficient time to produce proofs that they goods were legally brought in and failing this, they would be confiscated in favor of the government.

Rubio added that he has directed that all case records be immediately forwarded the BOC Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) for the filing of appropriate charges against the consignees and customs brokers for violation of RA 1083 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) and RA 10845 (Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016).

RA 10845 provides for life imprisonment with no bail recommended for those found guilty of smuggling agricultural products.

Maronilla back as BOC spox

Meanwhile, members of the press covering the Customs Beat welcomed the decision of Rubio to re-appoint Assistant Commissioner and seasoned BOC executive, Atty. Vincent ‘Jett’ Maronilla, as spokesman of the agency.

Maronilla would be holding the very demanding position concurrent with his job as chief of the Post-Clearance Audit Group (PCAG).

With his light demeanor and visible confidence on what he is saying regarding customs matters, Maronilla has earned the respect and confidence of those covering the waterfront beat.

He also served effectively as BOC spokesman for most of the term of Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, who was Customs chief from October 2018 to July 2023.