Customs sacks NAIA-based employee for releasing P9 million worth of medicines
04/14/2009 | 06:26 PM
MANILA, Philippines - A Customs employee assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was dismissed after some P9 million worth of anti-ulcer and heartburn drugs were released under his watch.
Joselito Reyes, Bureau of Customs (BOC) warehouseman III, will be investigated for the questionable release of 61 boxes of 21,960 vials of 40-mg Pantoloc Pantoprazole that arrived in January.
The drug is manufactured by Nicomed of Germany.
Willie Sarmiento, chief of the Internal Inquiry and Prosecution Division, was tasked to look into airport personnel involved in the processing, assessment, and release of the said shipment.
Last week, the Customs Enforcement and Security Service led by Chief Supt. Jose Yuchongo recovered the shipment upon the request of pharmaceutical distributor Zuellig Pharma Corp. in a raid in Quezon City.
The shipment was released to Majestic Freight Forwarders after paying a measly P56,599.00 in duties and taxes for the shipment undervalued at $4,000.
The medicines will be destroyed as quality and efficacy of the drug might have been compromised while in the possession of Majestic Freight Forwarders’ possession, the BOC said earlier. - GMANews.TV
Joselito Reyes, Bureau of Customs (BOC) warehouseman III, will be investigated for the questionable release of 61 boxes of 21,960 vials of 40-mg Pantoloc Pantoprazole that arrived in January.
The drug is manufactured by Nicomed of Germany.
Willie Sarmiento, chief of the Internal Inquiry and Prosecution Division, was tasked to look into airport personnel involved in the processing, assessment, and release of the said shipment.
Last week, the Customs Enforcement and Security Service led by Chief Supt. Jose Yuchongo recovered the shipment upon the request of pharmaceutical distributor Zuellig Pharma Corp. in a raid in Quezon City.
The shipment was released to Majestic Freight Forwarders after paying a measly P56,599.00 in duties and taxes for the shipment undervalued at $4,000.
The medicines will be destroyed as quality and efficacy of the drug might have been compromised while in the possession of Majestic Freight Forwarders’ possession, the BOC said earlier. - GMANews.TV
