Progressive punishment

IF luggage theft is punished with termination of contract like Miascor’s case, what should be the punishment for those charged and proven to have committed smuggling, like the case of Asian Terminal, Inc. (ATI)?

President Rodrigo Duterte allowed the termination of Miascor’s decade-long contract with Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) overseeing Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Miascor’s contract with Clark Airport was cancelled, and the Kalibo and Davao airports operations were not renewed after six employees were dismissed when an overseas Filipino worker’s video of his looted baggage went viral on Facebook. Miascor’s termination impacted on thousands of employees and families.

Transport officials are now in quandary officials after the Bureau of Customs (BOC) filed smuggling charges against officials of Asian Terminal, Inc. (ATI) and of six corporations and brokers over the alleged “illegal release” of containers worth over P69 million, despite an alert order in March.

Facing charges are the owners, officials, and brokers of Premiere Oak Lumber & Wood Products Corporation, Spectrum Highlands Marketing Corporation, Megaabundancesteel Indent Trading Corporation, Abundancegain Indent Trading Corporation, Paragon Platinum International Trading Corporation, and Imperialfoods and Agricultural Prod, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

The officers of the six corporations, brokers and ATI personnel allegedly released the containers from the ATI premises, without the necessary examination. Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said all alerted shipments must pass examination before they are released.

The accused violated the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016, specifically involving unlawful importation or exportation, and removing goods from Customs’ custody.

Business circles wanted to know how the BOC-initiated charges will impact on the concession agreement of ATI with government.

The Duterte administration is relentless in its fight against corruption – especially those involving private businesses with the government.

DOTr Secretary Art Tugade, overseeing the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), fumes at the slightest whiff of corruption.

Since luggage theft is a much lesser offense than smuggling, how come Miascor and employees got the boot? Can we expect ATI will suffer a worst fate than Miascor ‘s?

Time will tell, but one thing is for sure. Taxes, as a form of punishment, should be progressive. The bigger offense deserves a harsher punishment.