PINANGUNAHAN mismo ni Bureau of Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio ang pagsusuri sa nasabat na tone-toneladang misdeclared refined sugar na nasabat sa Port of Subic.

Kahapon, nagsagawa ng inspeksyon ang pamunuan ng Aduana Port of Subic kaugnay sa labing-apat na 20-foot container vans ng misdeclared sugar products mula sa Vietnam na may estimated value na umabot sa P28,728,000, na pinigil ng mga tauhan ng BOC dahil sa mga paglabag sa customs regulations at kaukulang legal provisions.

Nabatid na ang shipment ay idineklarang “Sweet Mixed Powder,” na nagmula sa Dong Nai Province, Vietnam. Minarkahan ito ng Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) – Port of Subic dahil sa posibilidad na misdeclaration at regulatory non-compliance ng ipinapasok na kontrabando.

Lumitaw sa Laboratory analysis na isinagawa matapos ang physical inspection, sa pakikipagtulungan sa Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), na nadetermina na ang sucrose content ng kinuhang samples ay lagpas 65%, kaya ikinaklasipika ang nasabing shipment bilang refined sugar taliwas sa idineklarang description.

“These findings constitute violations of SRA Sugar Order No. 7, S. 2003–2004; SRA and BOC Joint Memorandum Order No. 04-2002; and Sections 1400 and 1113 (f)(k) 1, 4, and 5 of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and Sec. 7 (a) and (e) of the Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act,” ayon sa opisyal ng BOC.

Ito ang dahilan ni District Collector Marlon Fritz Broto, MNSA, para mag-isyu ng Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) laban sa kontrabando na kanilang pinigil noong Marso 28, 2025. Ang nasabing shipments ay kasalukuyang ngayong sumasailalim sa forfeiture proceedings.

Ayon kay Commissioner Rubio, ang nasabing mga hakbangin ng Aduana ay pagtalima sa direktiba ni President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na tiyakin ang food security, panatilihin ang trade integrity, at labanan ang agricultural smuggling.

“This seizure demonstrates our firm resolve to prevent the entry of misdeclared and unregulated goods. We remain aligned with the President’s call to protect consumers, support legitimate businesses, and safeguard the nation’s agricultural interests through strengthened inter-agency cooperation,” ani Comm. Rubio.

Ayon naman kay District Collector Broto, “Through stringent inspections and decisive enforcement actions, the Port of Subic continues to fulfill its duty to secure our borders and maintain the integrity of lawful trade. We thank the SRA for its steadfast support in this operation.”

(JESSE KABEL RUIZ)