DIAMANTE OPENS UP
Democrito Diamante, BOC Cebu District Collector Elvira Cruz and someone who may be the ex-mayor of Boljoon are on the list provided by Senator Lacson of alleged recipients and benefactors of the BOC’s “tara” system
Mayor Democrito Diamante Jr. of Tuburan, Cebu says he has a customs brokerage business but he is not into bribery at BOC Customs Cebu District Collector Elvira Cruz, also named by Sen. Lacson in bribery list, keeps mum for now
Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante admitted owning a customs brokerage business, but he denied bribing anyone from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in any of his transactions with the agency as alleged by Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
Lacson on Wednesday named recipients and benefactors of the “tara” system in the BOC led by former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon, whom the lawmaker tagged as “most corrupt” official in the agency.
BOC Cebu District Collector Elvira Cruz, who was also on the list, refused to comment on the allegation that she is part of the corruption in the bureau.
“I’m not ready to talk now, maybe next week,” Cruz told SunStar Cebu yesterday.
Cruz was the sub-port collector of Mariveles, Bataan before her assignment in Cebu, and has served the BOC for 14 years.
The list of BOC officials and individuals involved in the corruption included a “Jun Diamante,” who was identified as one of those who give money to bureau’s officials.
A certain Deogenes “Dennis” de Rama is also in the list, but Lacson did not say if he is the former mayor of Boljoon town, Deogenes Derama.
“If we will be called out, I am willing to appear to clear my name. For me, I don’t have anything to fear because my conscience is clean. And I am also not involved with drugs since I am against illegal drugs. Since I became a mayor, I was one of those people who sent many drug personalities to jail. I even sent to jail my own relatives who were involved in drugs,” Diamante said in Cebuano.
Lacson said he began receiving information from “credible” sources on the “tara” list of the BOC shortly after a Senate committee started investigating the P6.4-billion shabu shipment smuggled from China, which the BOC cleared for release.
In a phone interview yesterday, Diamante said he has a logistics, trucking and customs brokerage business that caters to multinational companies. But he said none of his clients asked him to give money to any customs official.
Diamante admitted, though, that there were instances when he gave wine to a friend from the BOC during special occasions.
He said he was surprised to learn that his name was on the list.
“Maybe there’s someone who envied me or most likely it’s politically motivated. My transaction with the BOC is almost always regular and multinational because I have a trucking and logistics businesses. I have contributed to the collection of the Bureau of Customs,” he said.
In a privilege speech at the Senate, Lacson accused Faeldon of receiving a P100-million “pasalubong” or welcome gift from a group that has been operating in the bureau for quite a long time.
Lacson said President Rodrigo Duterte should think twice before giving Faeldon another post in government, adding that his source and his evidence are “highly credible.”
“Huwag na bigyan ng posisyon” Lacson said as he boo-booed Faeldon for claiming innocence in the
existing “tara” (grease money) sys- tem inside the BOC during a previous hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee.
Lacson, a former top police official, said Faeldon and his men have been receiving payoffs after they assumed office without hesitation.
With the backing of no less than the President, Lacson said Faeldon should have started the cleansing in the bureau by eliminating what has been corrupting the agency for so long—the tara system.
“Kaya lang kinain na siya ng sistema. He should have eliminated the ‘tara system’ but siya ang kinain ng sistema ng corruption, thereby effectively tolerating and even promoting the impunity of corruption,” Lacson said.
The lawmaker said that owners or consignees of 40 percent of the total 15,000 to 16,000 containers that pass through the BOC weekly give to the “tara” system.
The so-called big players or bagmen include Charlie Tan of the Davao Group, who was mentioned by customs fixer Mark Taguba in the Senate and House of Representatives’ investigation on the shabu shipment.
“Enormous shipment was suc- cessfully smuggled by these people,” he said.
Lacson said the other big players or the so-called bribe givers include David Tan, Manny Santos, Teves Group ( Joel, Jonjon and John Paul, Ringo, Jerry), Tina Yu, Jerry Yu, Eric Yap, Edvic Yap, Ruben and Mark Taguba, Noel Bonvalin, George Tan, Deogenes “Dennis” de Rama, Henry Tan, Bim Castillo, Atty. Veneer Baquiran, Jude Logarta, Henry Tan, George Wee, Johnny Sy, Armando (Burog) and Ruel Tolentino, Jun Diamante, Vic Reyes, a certain Eunice of Davao, Gerry Yap, Arnold Saulong, Hope Arnulfo Saulong, Boy Sabater, Nero Andal, Lea Cruz, Aying Acuzar/Eduardo Dio, Rey Tubig, Frank Wong, Chi Men, Arthur Tan, Charlie Tan of Davao Group, Anthony Ng, and a certain Grace Bisaya.
In the BOC, Lacson said everybody is happy every Friday, which they call the joyous “TGIF” (Thanks God It’s Friday), referring to the weekly assembly for the bribe distribution of alleged on-the-take employees. /
... I am willing to appear to clear my name. For me, I have nothing to fear because my conscience is clean. DEMOCRITO DIAMANTE Tuburan Mayor