Considered
as one of the most corrupt agency in the government, wherein the 1st appointed official resigned because
of allegations of graft and corruption. A new face was introduced to remedy the
disease that hampers the government to make full use of the revenues it gets.
It seems
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña is up to the task at hand in the Bureau of
Customs (BOC).
The BOC
seized eighteen luxury cars worth more than P107 million due to under evaluation
and failure to present the Authority To Release Imported Goods (ATRIG) from the
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Customs chief Isidro Lapena led the
inspection on November 6. *
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| Bureau of Custom's photo |
In a statement on Monday, the BOC said
the shipments arrived at the Manila International Container Port on separate
dates from October 13 to 19, containing 12 Toyota Land Cruisers, three Range
Rovers, two Chevrolet Camaros, and one McLaren.
The shipments arrived at the Manila
International Container Port (MICP) from October 13 to 19. Among the seized
vehicles are twelve (12) units Toyota Land Cruisers, three (3) units Range
Rovers, two (2) units Chevrolet Camaro, and one (1) unit McLaren. All the cars
are of current models, according to the BOC.
"If we did not alert these
shipments, these could have been released from Customs custody without the
required ATRIG and correct valuation," said BOC commissioner Isidro
Lapeña.
"The fact that the importer cannot
produce the BIR clearance and declare the correct value of shipments send a
signal that something is questionable with the shipments," Lapeña noted.
An ATRIG is issued by the BIR, addressed
to the BOC commissioner, which authorizes imported goods to be released from
Customs once the right duties and taxes have been paid, or proof of exemption
from paying taxes and duties has been presented.
The vehicles came from Hong Kong, United
Arab Emirates, and the United States. The units were examined at the container
yard of nearby International Container Terminal Services Inc. on October 23. *
The shipments is consigned to a Gamma
Gray Marketing were processed by Customs broker Roy Lasdoce.
BOC chair has ordered the bureau to
investigate the customs broker and the consignee’s permit to import luxury cars
and determine their liability to possible violations of Revenue Regulation Nos.
2-2016 and 25-2003 and Sections 1400 of the Republic Act No. 10863 or the
Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.
"This is a blatant disregard of
Customs rules on importation. I am sure traders know what is required when
bringing luxury vehicles into the country. I appeal to all importers not to
disregard Customs laws or else you will face the consequences of your
malpractice," Lapeña said.
Report from GMAnetwork.com
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