BOC releases 16 seized dump trucks

The office of Bureau of Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina has reportedly released 16 dump trucks that were seized a year ago, sources said yesterday.

The dump trucks were seized in May 2014 after former BOC chief issued a warrant of seizure and detention on the suspicion that they had been misclassified.

The recommendation for the warrant came from the office of Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group ( IG) Jessie Dellosa.

The trucks were brought from China to the Cagayan de Oro port on board M/V Fortune Trade. They were consigned to EC Peninsula Corp., based in Cagayan de Oro, and the customs broker was identified as Steve Semblante.

The dump trucks were stated to be for “off-road use,” for which the duty should be three percent, but BOC personnel reportedly verified them to be for “on-road use” and the duty should have been 20 percent.

Sources said Dellosa raised the issue with Lina and an “affidavit of undertaking” was drawn up. Since the trucks have reportedly been released, the BOC and the Department of Finance would reassess the duties and taxes that should be imposed on the shipment.

“The condition is after the shipment has been reviewed by the BOC and it would be proven that there are still duties and taxes that needs to be collected, then they ( consignee) would have to pay for that,” the source said.

The STAR tried to contact Lina but he was unavailable for comment.