Pinapurihan ni House Ways and Means Chair Joey Sarte Salceda ang Bureau of Customs sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, sa pagkakasabat ng nasa P3.72 bilyong halaga ng smuggled electronic cigarettes sa magkahiwalay na raid sa Malabon at Paranaque kamakailan.
“I congratulate Commissioner Rubio and his team for the big-time catches conducted today. Once again, the Flava brand of vapes, already the subject of the Committee’s investigation for P1.4 billion in evaded taxes, is once again involved.” saad ni Salceda.
Pagbabahagi pa ng mambabatas na sa operasyong ito ng BOC, kasama sa nasabat ang mga produkto ng Flava na siyang sentro ng imbestigasyon ng kaniyang komite.
Partikular dito ang warehouse sa San Dionisio, Parañaque City na may 1.5 million piraso ng Flava e-cigarettes at tinatayang nagkakahalaga ang P1.53 bilyon.
“The Committee wants Flava Corporation shuttered. And, this probably strengthens the case against them,” sabi ng mambabatas.
Natapos na ng komite ang imbestigasyon nito kaugnay sa Flava Corporation at naisumite na rin ang draft committee report.
Kabilang sa rekomendasyon ay ang pagpapasara sa kumpanya at dagdag pang imbestigasyon sa posibleng money laundering at iba pang smuggling.
Nagbabala rin si Salceda sa mga online selling platform na posibleng makasuhan din sila ng smuggling sa patuloy na pagbebenta ng Flava at smuggled items.
“Lazada and Shopee, and other online selling platforms, should take appropriate action now. They carry immense risks that are not worth the legal trouble if they insist on carrying potentially smuggled goods. The BOC has already found that Flava Corporation does not have the capacity to manufacture vape. They have no registered imported brands with the BIR. So, one and one together makes a strong case. So, fair warning to online selling platforms and distributors, as well as to logistics providers. Selling and transporting smuggled goods falls under the definition of smuggling, just as much as bringing the goods in.” babala ni Salceda. | ulat ni Kathleen Forbes
