Intelligence and investigation agents of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized on Wednesday, Aug. 30, around P519 million worth of rice grains and “palay” during a series of inspections in four warehouses in Bulacan.

The operations led by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) came following the order of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to intensify the BOC operations against rice smuggling and hoarding.

It was also conducted a week after the inspection of another batch of Bulacan warehouses where around P500 million worth of imported rice were also discovered.

Intelligence Officer 3 Alvin Enciso of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) conducts an unannounced inspection of a warehouse in Bocaue, Bulacan, which are storing sacks of rice imported from Pakistan and Vietnam
on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (photo: BOC)

BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio said he immediately issued a Letter of Authority (LOA) after the CIIS obtained intelligence reports about the existence of thousands sacks of rice in Bocaue and Balagtas towns.

“We had a sectoral meeting with the President, who gave a clear directive about how we can help stop the rising cost of rice in the market. So, this is our answer to that order,” said Rubio.

“We have just discovered four warehouses storing rice grains and palay, and if the owners of these warehouses fail to show proper documents that they rightfully paid the taxes and duties they owe to the government, then we will take immediate legal action and confiscate the items here,” he added.

During the inspections, CIIS agents, backed by operatives of the CIIS-Manila International Container Port (MICP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Task Force Aduana, discovered 154,000 sacks of imported rice and 60,000 sacks of palay.

Rubio said the 154,000 sacks of imported rice grains came from Vietnam and Pakistan and have an estimated value of P431 million, while the 60,000 sacks of “palay” are valued at P88 million. 

Rubio was present during the inspections along with Customs Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy and CIIS Director Verne Enciso. House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Representatives Erwin Tulfo, Wilfrido Mark Enverga, and Ambrosio Cruz Jr. also joined the inspection.

Uy said the LOA was presented to the representatives of the warehouses before the inspections, adding that it came after they received derogatory information about the warehouses.

“The key here is acting with immediacy because we understand  that we are fighting against big-time organizations that can potentially cripple our agricultural sector. This is important not only to our agricultural workers, our farmers, but more so for the everyday Juan who toils to put food on the table,” said Uy. 

For his part, Enciso said the recent operations should fire up the bureau to put an end to rice smuggling. 

“Our intel about how massive the scale of these activities are drives us to be one step ahead of any potential smuggling attempt. And so while we commend the people behind every operation, we must enjoin them to build up on the past successes and work on bringing these smugglers to justice,” said Enciso.   

Currently, the warehouses were temporarily padlocked and sealed as inventory of the goods was immediately conducted by the assigned Customs examiners while witnessed by agents from CIIS, PCG, and the warehouse representatives.

The visitorial and inspection authority of the BOC is in accordance with Chapter 2, Section 224 of Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).