BoC destroys P5-M seized goods

MORE than P5 million of assorted food stuffs and other

over the weekend by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) in separate facilities in Laguna and Bulacan provinces.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena said the condemnation process was in line with public interest and transparency in the disposition of forfeited goods.

Condemed at the facility of Tritek Reverse Logistics Corp. in San Pedro City, Laguna were four 40-footer container vans of assorted foodstuffs worth at least P4 million.

The shipments, which contained chocolate spreads, coffee creamer, creams, juices, and air fresheners, weres not covered by any certificate of product registration from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).

They were automatically

to Section 1113 (Property Sub-

in relation to Republic Act 9711 otherwise known as, FDA Act of 2009.

They were consigned to IT Malingco Trading, and arrived on May 15, 2017 at the Port of Manila from the United States of America.

Lawyer Erastus Austria, POM district collector, ruled that the forfeited items were “unfit for human consumption, have no commercial value, or the release thereof is contrary to law,” thus he ordered the condemnation of the articles by way of composting, rendering and pouring.

At the same time, the BoCPort of Subic also destroyed P1.5 million worth of prohibited used clothing or ukayukay, used tires, and other abandoned goods at the facilities of Epy Eco Auction and Waste Disposal Services, the accredited service provider of the Port of Subic for the condemnation of contrabands and abandoned goods, in Guiguinto, Bulacan.

Subic District Collector lawyer Ma. Rhea Gregorio said the prohibited ukay-ukay and used tires as well as the assorted merchandise were abandoned by the consignees and have been consequently forfeited in favor of the government.

She said that while the commercial proliferation of ukayukay and used tires is popular, the law prohibits their importation as provided by Republic Act 4653 (RA 4653).

On the otherhand, Letter of Instruction 1086, s. 1980 prohibits the importation of used tires.

Gregorio was joined by representatives of the Commission on Audit and the local government of Sta. Rita, Guiguinto, Bulacan.