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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Galunggong' is crucial fish of evidence in DA-BFAR case

'Galunggong' is crucial fish of evidence in DA-BFAR case

Published Feb 12, 2021 03:03 pm

An administrative case has been filed against a Manila-based fish importer in connecton with the misdeclaration and diversion of some P1.9 million worth of round scad or “galunggong” from China.

(Mark Balmores / File photo / MANILA BULLETIN)

The case was filed by the Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) following a successful operation to track down two refrigerated container vans that purportedly contained "frozen squid whole".

"We commend the men and women of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) led by Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, and the DA-BFAR, led by Director Eduardo Gongona, for their continued vigilance and dedication to run after erring importers and traders," DA Secretary William Dar said in a statement Friday, Feb. 12.

"Illegal importers, smugglers and unscrupulous traders deprive us not only of much-needed tax revenues, but also of reasonably-priced farm and fishery products for the benefit of consumers," added Dar.

Dr. Nilo Katada, Chief of the DA-BFAR Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Division, said they filed the case on February 11, 2021, against Hightower, Inc. for violation of Section 105 (importation or exportation of fish or fishery species) of the amended Fisheries Code, or RA 8850 as amended by RA 10654, and DA-BFAR Fisheries Administrative Order No. 195 or the rules and regulations governing importation of fresh, chilled, frozen fish and fishery and aquatic products.

The case was filed following a report by the BoC of an alleged diversion of two refrigerated container vans as tracked via Global Positioning System (GPS) devices attached to the containers.

Based on the BoC report, the containers were allegedly diverted to the cold storage warehouse (CSW) of Glacier Megafridges, Inc., in Paranaque City. Acting on this, the DA-BFAR dispatched fish inspection officers to conduct an investigation, along with BoC fieldmen, on December 3, 2020.

They found out that the two containers arrived on November 28, 2020, at Glacier CSW. The fish items were imported by Hightower, Inc., under Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) No. ICDA BFAR 20106932, specifically for “frozen squid whole,” intended for institutional buyers, with final destination at its storage and trading center, in Quiapo, Manila.

Investigation showed that the two containers were instead diverted to another cold storage facility, at Amber Business Park in Paranaque, owned by a certain Lanie Duran of Glacier Megafridges Inc.

The joint DA-BFAR and BoC operatives eventually found out that the imported commodities actually consisted of 1,393 boxes of male round scad, 325 boxes of female round scad, and 215 boxes of squid.

The BoC immediately issued Warrant Seizure and Detention (WSD) to the subject commodity and immediately filed appropriate charges for violation of Customs Law.

If found guilty by the DA-BFAR adjudication committee, consignee Hightower will be penalized with a fine amounting to five times the value of the species, or P300,000 to P500,000, whichever is higher, and forfeiture of fishery/aquatic product for proper disposition.

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