CUSTOMS BUREAU FORFEITS 80- SEATER AIRCRAFT

AN 80-seater aircraft worth more than P.5 billion was forfeited by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) in favor of the government for non-payment of Customs duties and taxes. Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña on Tuesday disclosed that the aircraft is owned by Magnum Air Inc., operating as SkyJet Airlines, a former registered locator at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, but ceased operations in 2014. According to Lapeña, there is no record whatsoever in the Customs files about the importation of the aircraft. “Presently, the aircraft is forfeited in favor of the government after finding that its importation was attended with fraud and for being used in commercial flights since its importation without payment of Customs duties and taxes,” he said. Records show that the aircraft was first alerted on March 29, 2017 by the collector of the Port of Subic and ordered to show proof of payment of duties and taxes as no record of any import or warehousing entry was filed by the owners. The aircraft has violated Sections 224 (Power to Inspect and Visit), 400 (Goods to be Imported through Customs Office), 401 (Importation Subject to Goods Declaration) and 405 (Liability of Importer for Duties and Taxes) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Customs authorities estimated that the SkyJet is worth P583.58 million or $10.916 million. Magnum Air is liable to pay the BoC an estimated P90.5 million in Customs duties and taxes, excluding penalties and charges. The aircraft’s owner filed an appeal against the forfeiture order of the collector of the Ninoy Aquino Intrnational Airport (NAIA). The appeal is now pending before the bureau’s Legal Service. Lapeña said upon finality of the order of forfeiture, the Customs-NAIA, which has jurisdiction over the plane, will proceed with the public auction of the aircraft. The plane is parked in a hangar at the General Aviation Area of NAIA.