Faeldon links Ping’s son to cement smuggling

TAYTAY, Rizal – After being linked by Sen. Panfilo Lacson to corruption at the Bureau of Customs, outgoing BOC chief Nicanor Faeldon yesterday hit back at the senator, saying Lacson’s son and namesake was involved in technical smuggling of cement and had in several instances even gone to his office to deliver cash.

Faeldon said that during his year-long stay at the bureau, Panfilo “Pampi” Lacson Jr., said to be the managing director of Bonjourno Trading, reportedly made a total of 67 importations of cement.

In a letter dated Aug. 4, 2016 to the BOC chief, the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) identified Bonjourno Trading as the No. 1 importer allegedly engaged in undervaluing of freight rates.

He expressed belief Lacson was the real owner of the company and that a Florencio del Rosario listed as general manager could be just a dummy.

He said the younger Lacson went to his office five times last July but didn’t get to meet him.

Pampi, according to Faeldon, allegedly offered bribe to his staff. Pampi “knew there was no cashier in my office, so why did he bring money there?”

He recalled that he started receiving reports on attempts to undervalue at least four importations of Bonjourno Trading as early as during his 12th day as commissioner.

In a span of four days, the BOC placed three of Bonjourno’s shipments on alert for possible violation of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines and for undervaluation and possible misclassification. The broker for these cement shipments from Vietnam was Ruby Ballesteros.

On July 12, 2016, he received report about an alleged irregularity in the entry of cement consigned to Bonjourno Trading. It reportedly declared less than 50 percent of freight cost, paying only $8 when it should have paid $16 to $20.

The shipment of 3,000 bags of Portland cement arrived at the Port of Iloilo on June 27, 2016.

The following day, July 13, he received another recommendation to place on alert another shipment of 8,000 bags of Portland cement, which arrived at Iloilo port on July 5, 2016.

On July 15, Bonjourno brought in 2,601 bags of Port- land cement through the subport of Dadiangas.

All three shipments were not released until Bonjourno paid the correct freight charges a month later.

But on Oct. 10, 2016, the Port of Legazpi City acting district collector Divina Garrido reported that the consignee again tried to pay only 50 percent of freight charges for the 4,250 metric tons of cement from Vietnam.

But Garrido informed Bonjourno’s representative that the bureau would collect $18 per metric ton in freight charges and not $8 per metric ton of cement.

Faeldon said that aside from these four shipments, Lacson’s firm made 63 other importations during his year-long stay at the BOC that amounted to P4,651,883,750.

He is calling on the Senate’s Blue Ribbon committee to also look into the 63 other cement importations to determine if there were other attempts to undervalue any of these importations.

Faeldon said he found it puzzling that a firm created only in 2015 with a capitalization of only P20,000 managed to bring in billions worth of cement shipment.

He said it was only last Wednesday that he recalled the shipments made by Bonjourno.

The outgoing BOC chief also said he is willing to sign a waiver that would allow access to his bank accounts and records of his personal property. “I will sign, ask what you want me to sign. I will have my lawyer notarize it. I will sign every waiver you want.”