The anti-smuggling unit Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) of the Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed smuggling charges against two Davao-based companies over the illegal importation of prohibited used clothing (ukay-ukay) and rags valued at more than P4 million.
BATAS on January 31 filed the separate cases before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for violation of Section 1400 in relation to Section 1401 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA); Republic Act (RA) No. 4653 or “An Act to Safeguard the Health of the People and Maintain the Dignity of the Nation by Declaring it a National Policy to Prohibit Commercial Importation of Textile Articles commonly known as Used Clothing and Rags”; and Section 172 of the Revised Penal Code.
Charged were Berkis Nuh Abdu, owner of Zainar General Merchandise, of Sasa, Davao City, and his customs brokers, Remar Ferniz Mansari and Asniel Mocaram Diamad; and Griechelle Joyce Ballon Basio, owner of G-Joyce Enterprises, of Tagum City, and her customs broker, Asniel Mocaram Diamad.
“Two counts of smuggling charges were filed against Zainar while one to G-Joyce for their attempt to smuggle ukay-ukay at Port of Davao,” Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said in a statement.
In November 2017, two containers from South Korea arrived at the Port of Davao consigned to Zainar General Merchandise. Lapeña then issued an alert order for the shipment.
The consignee had declared the goods as packages of blankets, bedsheets, pillowcases, carpets, and caps, but these were found to be shipments of used blankets, bedsheets, pillowcases, scarfs, socks, pants, jackets, and shirts with an aggregate value of P3.686 million and total duties and taxes of P1.274 million.
“Majority of the contents of the container are used pants, shirts, and jackets,” according to Lapeña.
Another container from Malaysia, consigned to G-Joyce Enterprises, was also placed under alert order by the BOC chief.
The shipment had been declared to contain bedsheets, bags, curtains, shoes, and pillowcases but was found instead to contain used clothing with a total value of P567,424.89 and combined duties and taxes of P198,224.
“One of the booming businesses in our country is the selling of ukay-ukay. Because of its cheaper price, it is often patronized by the consumers over high-priced clothing,” Lapeña pointed out.
However, RA No. 4653 prohibits the commercial importation of used clothing and rags in order to preserve the dignity of the nation and protect the health of its people.
“Not only does it undermine our dignity but it also poses greater risk to our health. Used clothing, according to research, can cause skin diseases, itchiness, redness, and may trigger allergies,” the BOC chief said.
Lapeña reminds the public to be cautious in buying ukay-ukay in order to avoid catching diseases.
