THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner, including other high-ranking Customs and Department of Agriculture (DA) officials, are allegedly part of a list of supposed protectors and smugglers of agricultural products into the country.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said this is based on an intelligence report he received on May 17, which he made public via Committee Report Number 649 of the Senate Committee of the Whole that investigated the smuggling and signed by a total of 17 senators.
Based on the “validated list” of the intelligence report, it pointed to officials led by BOC chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero, DA Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan, BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Raniel Ramiro, Customs Deputy Commissioner Vener Baquiran, customs revenue collection monitoring group, Director Geofrey Tacio of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Atty. Yasser Abbas of Customs Import and Assessment.
Also included in the list are Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director George Culaste, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Eduardo Gongona, and Laarni Roxas of the Plant Quarantine Services Division of the BPI.
Others names included in the list are Toby Tiangco, tagged as smuggling protector of “BFAR products,” Mayor Jun Diamante, allegedly involved on agricultural products that pass through the ports of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Subic, Gerry Teves listed as smuggler in major ports.
Also, the names of David Tan, alias David Bangyan, Manuel Tan, Jude Logarta in Cebu, Leah Cruz alias Luz Cruz, and alias Lilia Matabang Cruz, who is also called as “Onion Queen,” Andy Chua, George Tan, David Bangayan, Paul Teves, Tommy Go and Wilson Chua.
There were no details on the alleged involvement of BOC and DA officials in the smuggling allegations in the 63-page committee report Sotto submitted last June 1, and there was no reply from their end as well.
Among the 17 senators who signed, aside from Sotto, were Lacson, Binay, Go, Hontiveros, Imee Marcos, Pacquiao, Pangilinan, Pimentel, Gordon, Poe, Revilla, Joel Villanueva, Villar, Zubiri, Recto, and Drilon.
According to Sotto, he already shared the list to President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., who he thinks will take action since he will take over the post of DA Secretary.