CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group-Task Force Subic (PAGS-TFS) has seized on Tuesday at least P2.1-million worth of imported cigarettes smuggled out of the Subic Bay Freeport allegedly by a wife of an elected official in Pampanga.
Mei Jocson, the suspected consignee, appeared at the PASG-TFS office in Subic also on Tuesday to admit ownership of the 132 boxes, Supt. Manuel Obrera, PASG-TFS chief of staff.
Councilor Benny Jocson of Mabalacat, Pampanga, denied that the contraband belonged to his wife.
“Those are not hers. She has stopped doing business,” the councilor said by phone.
He confirmed that she came to the PASG-TFS office but only to help a certain Alvin Guzman. Councilor Jocson did not say how Guzman was involved in the case.
The 46 boxes of Black Devil, 26 boxes of Kent Blue Futura, 30 boxes of Kent Silver Neo and 30 boxes of Mild Seven Lights had been loaded in a Mitsubishi L-300 van and two Hyundai Grace van.
These got past the Morong Gate of the freeport. PASG operatives apprehended the vehicles at the Morong town proper at past 7 a.m.
Only two of the drivers, identified as Alvin Mamangon and Ramon Santos, were arrested. The third driver escaped, Obrero said.
The drivers failed to show gate passes from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and clearances from the Bureau of Customs, according to Obrera.
He said the lack of proper documents indicated that the contraband were possibly bought from a freeport-based importer.
Obrera ruled out reports that the cigarettes were purchased from duty-free shops. A law on the operations of duty-free shops inside Subic and the Clark Freeport in Pampanga limits individual purchases at $25 daily.
Clark sources said Mei Jocson was suspected of being involved in the smuggling of Ma Ling canned port meat before 2004. Councilor Jocson denied this.
Mei Jocson, the suspected consignee, appeared at the PASG-TFS office in Subic also on Tuesday to admit ownership of the 132 boxes, Supt. Manuel Obrera, PASG-TFS chief of staff.
Councilor Benny Jocson of Mabalacat, Pampanga, denied that the contraband belonged to his wife.
“Those are not hers. She has stopped doing business,” the councilor said by phone.
He confirmed that she came to the PASG-TFS office but only to help a certain Alvin Guzman. Councilor Jocson did not say how Guzman was involved in the case.
The 46 boxes of Black Devil, 26 boxes of Kent Blue Futura, 30 boxes of Kent Silver Neo and 30 boxes of Mild Seven Lights had been loaded in a Mitsubishi L-300 van and two Hyundai Grace van.
These got past the Morong Gate of the freeport. PASG operatives apprehended the vehicles at the Morong town proper at past 7 a.m.
Only two of the drivers, identified as Alvin Mamangon and Ramon Santos, were arrested. The third driver escaped, Obrero said.
The drivers failed to show gate passes from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and clearances from the Bureau of Customs, according to Obrera.
He said the lack of proper documents indicated that the contraband were possibly bought from a freeport-based importer.
Obrera ruled out reports that the cigarettes were purchased from duty-free shops. A law on the operations of duty-free shops inside Subic and the Clark Freeport in Pampanga limits individual purchases at $25 daily.
Clark sources said Mei Jocson was suspected of being involved in the smuggling of Ma Ling canned port meat before 2004. Councilor Jocson denied this.
