The Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) last week filed its sixth technical smuggling case against an oil industry player.
Sued before the Department of Justice for various fraudulent practices were Joselito Magalona, president of Jetti Petroleum Inc, as well as customs brokers Darwin Suico and Dario Amolata.
Technical smuggling suits have earlier been filed against Pilipinas Shell, Phoenix Petroleum, Cross Country, Oil Link, and Filpride.
Outgoing Customs commissioner Angelito Alvarez said BOC found proof Jetti’s growth was partly achieved through schemes that deprived government of revenues.
Of the 49 import entries unloaded by the oil importer at the Sub-Port of Mindanao International Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, 45 were anomalous, BOC said.
Between June 2010 and June 2011, Jetti imported various petroleum products with a combined dutiable value of P4.1 billion, including those worth P1.1 billion imported from September 28, 2010 to May 16, 2011. Those shipments cleared customs even if their covering import entries were filed beyond the required 30-day period from date of discharge.
In addition, P2.9 billion worth of imported petroleum products covered by 30 import entry declarations cleared customs despite Jetti’s failure to submit the required load port survey and/or discharge port survey.
The oil company also has unpaid duties and taxes for various importations worth P11.7 million since it only paid P896.4 million when it should have remitted P908.2 million to the BOC.
Jetti is a 100% Filipino-owned company engaged in the importation, blending, distribution, and retailing of petroleum products. It is a major oil industry player in Mindanao with a network of company-owned and dealer-owned stations built in the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Butuan and other key areas in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur.
Photo by midorisyu
