NO LETUP. An officer of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) conducts an unannounced inspection of a warehouse in Bocaue, Bulacan, which were found storing sacks of rice imported from Pakistan and Vietnam on Wednesday (Aug. 30, 2023). Customs officers discovered PHP519 million worth of imported rice and palay during an inspection in four warehouses in Bulacan. (Photo courtesy of BOC)

MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Wednesday found an estimated total of PHP519 million worth of agricultural products in several warehouses in Bulacan province.

The team led by Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio found 154,000 sacks of imported rice grains and 60,000 sacks of “palay” (unhusked rice) upon inspection of four warehouses located in Barangay Wakas in Bocaue town and and Barangay San Juan in Balagtas town.

The 154,000 sacks of imported rice grains came from Vietnam and Pakistan and have an estimated value of PHP431 million, while the 60,000 sacks of “palay” are valued at PHP88 million.

“Yesterday, we had a sectoral meeting with the President (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.), who gave a clear directive about how we can help stop the rising cost of rice in the market. So, this is our answer to that order. We have just discovered four warehouses storing rice grains and palay, and if the owners of these warehouses fail to show proper documents that they rightfully paid the taxes and duties they owe to the government, then we will take immediate legal action and confiscate the items here,” Rubio said in a statement.

The warehouses were identified as Gold Rush Ricemill/Warehouse in Balagtas; JJS Ricemill/Warehouse and Gold Rush Ricemill 2, both in Bocaue.

The other warehouse with no signage was only identified as having a gray colored gate located in Intercity Industrial Complex, also in Balagtas town.

Rubio signed and authorized the inspection of the Bulacan warehouses, which came a week after the inspection of another batch of Bulacan warehouses also with the lawmakers.

When the team arrived, they found the representatives of the warehouses and presented to them the Letters of Authority (LOAs) before proceeding to inspect these warehouses.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Representatives Erwin Tulfo, Wilfrido Mark Enverga and Ambrosio Cruz Jr. also joined the inspection.

Aside from Rubio, the inspection team was composed of Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Verne Enciso, elements of the CIIS at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Task Force Aduana.

The BOC official disclosed that they received derogatory information about the warehouses and swiftly acted on its verification for the subsequent issuance of the LOAs.

“The key here is acting with immediacy because we understand that we are fighting against big-time organizations that can potentially cripple our agricultural sector. This is important not only to our agricultural workers, our farmers, but more so for the everyday Juan who toils to put food on the table,” Uy said.

On the other hand, the CIIS official noted that the “impressive results” of the recent operations should fire up the bureau to put an end to rice smuggling.

“Our intel about how massive the scale of these activities are drives us to be one step ahead of any potential smuggling attempt. And so while we commend the people behind every operation, we must enjoin them to build up on the past successes and work on bringing these smugglers to justice,” Enciso added.

The warehouses were temporarily padlocked and sealed as inventory of the goods was immediately conducted by the assigned Customs examiners while witnessed by agents from CIIS, PCG and the warehouse representatives.

The visit and inspection authority of the BOC is in accordance with Chapter 2, Section 224 of Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. (PNA)