SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Six top officials of the Bureau of Customs-Port of Subic were temporarily relieved from their post pending investigation on the reported smuggling of 140,000 bags or 7,021 metric tons of sugar last Aug. 17 on board cargo vessel MV Bangpakaew from Thailand.
An office order dated Aug. 22 signed by acting BOC commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz relieved the six officials and “temporarily transferred [them] to the Office of the Commissioner” while awaiting the results of the investigation into the alleged smuggling of sugar.
Relieved of their duties were district collector, Maritess Theodossis Martin, deputy collector for assessment Maita Sering Acevedo, deputy collector for operations Giovanni Ferdinand Aguillon Leynes, chief of assessment division Belinda Fernando Lim, Enforcement Security Service commander Vincent Mark Solamin Malasmas, and Intelligence and Investigation Service supervisor Justin Roman Silvoza Geli.
Earlier, a report from Malacañang said, “heads may roll at the BOC if proven that any of the bureau’s port personnel were working with sugar smugglers using recycled import permits.”
