THE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said Thursday it recently confiscated P8 billion worth of smuggled sugar from Thailand.
In a statement, SBMA said the shipment appeared suspicious and lacked proper documents.
SBMA said the shipment of 200,000 metric tons of refined white sugar from Thailand was scheduled to arrive today at the Subic Bay Freeport.
SBMA Chairman Martin Diño has directed Trade Facilitation & Compliance Department officer-in-charge Robert Bana to recall the certificate of eligibility and admission permit issued in favor of Subic Bay Free Trade Center, Inc., an SBMA locator and importer of the prime commodity.
“Let me emphasize that I will have zero tolerance for any form of smuggling during my watch here at SBMA. Don’t mess with me. This is more than what a local sugar refinery can produce in one milling season,” Diño said.
Diño said under the prevailing landed price of P2,000 per sack, the shipment of some four million sacks would easily be worth P8 billion in the domestic market.
“Smuggling is pure and simple economic sabotage. The Duterte administration needs all the revenues it can raise to fund an aggressive infrastructure development program and more efficient delivery of vital social services, especially education and health, to the disadvantaged sectors of the population,” he said.
“‹He warned unscrupulous SBMA personnel he would not hesitate to dismiss them if found to have participated in shenanigans at the Freeport.
Dino said he had ordered an investigation to get to the bottom of the smuggling attempt and to file the corresponding charges against all those responsible for the illicit operation.
“President Duterte is determined to stamp out not only the drug menace and criminality but also the scourge of corruption. We need the full support of everyone in bringing about real change in Philippine society in the years ahead,” Dino said.