6 traders, brokers face raps for smuggling onions from China

The Bureau of Customs on Thursday filed smuggling charges against six traders and brokers who tried sneaking in P27.3 million worth of onions from China into the Philippines between March and September this year. Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon identified the traders and brokers as:

• Maria Guia Alfonso, owner of Advanced Impex International Trading (trader);
• Michael Galon Jovan, owner of Iana Enterprises (trader);
• Raymundo Conge Rebrozido, owner of Royal Halo Enterprises (trader);
• Vanessa Ocampo broker);
• Steve Salagade Semblante (broker);
• Jason Ferrer (broker).

They were charged for violation of Sections 3601 and 3602 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines for technical smuggling, as well as for violation of Section 2503 of the same code for misdeclaration. Additional charges for violation of Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code were also slapped against the six. Biazon said Alfonso declared his two 40-foot container loads of onions as apples, with an assessed value of P4 million. Jovan, meanwhile, declared six container loads of onions as pastries, with a value of P18 million. Lastly, Rebozido declared four container loads of onions as plastic kitchenware with an assessed value of P5.3 million. All shipments have already been seized and are in the custody of the Bureau of Customs. The onions were brought in from China either through the port in Cagayan de Oro or the port of Manila. — LBG, GMA News