September 30, 2015
Manila Bulletin (Mario Casayuran) | http://goo.gl/IvvsCX
The Bureau of Customs on Tuesday ordered the suspension of importer Real Top Enterprises for alleged sugar smuggling, GMA 7 news program “24 Oras” reported on Tuesday.
“Naka receive kami ng recommendation from the Office of the Commissioner to suspend Real Top Enterprises... for alleged sugar smuggling,” Customs Account Management Office Chief Atty. Jemina Sy-Flores explained.
A source told GMA News that a politician based in Mindoro province was behind Real Top Enterprises.
Sugar smuggling became a hot-button topic after former Land Transportation Office Chief Virgie Torres allegedly attempted to persuade Customs officials to release 50 containers of smuggled sugar – an allegation Torres has repeatedly denied.
The containers of smuggled sugar were allegedly brought in by importer Global Classe Marketing.
But Global Classe wrote to the BoC and denied that the shipment was theirs, explaining that their company's name was only used to file the import entry of the smuggled sugar.
Nevertheless, Sy-Flores said that Global Classe would still be investigated. “Possible naman na na-tempt sila diba? Business opportunity yun... so baka na-tempt sila na mas malaki 'yung kikitain sa sugar,” she said.
Meanwhile, the BoC was also looking into the alleged activities of a certain Jenny Munar-Uy, who was said to frequent the Customs Intelligence Group offices.
Based on the findings of a partial investigation, Munar-Uy allegedly dropped Customs Deputy Commissioner Jessie Dellosa's name to solicit bribes from importers, with the guarantee of safe passage for their shipments.
Dellosa, for his part, said he was ready to respond to the allegations in the proper forum. — Andrei Medina/DVM, GMA News