At least P10 billion worth of smuggled jewelry and drugs passed through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport through the intervention of several high-ranking government officials, according to Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Commissioner Greco Belgica.
The PACC chief said the gold came mostly from Dubai and Bangkok. Belgica said that the gold from Dubai are 22 carats but the smugglers will only declare it at the Bureau of Customs as 18 carats to reduce its duties and taxes.
Belgica said the government officials who frequent the airport to “assist” their clients include someone from the Pasay City prosecutors office, a Justice assistant secretary, Customs supervisors, BOC-CIIS director, and a former mayor.
“The latest that we caught has been traveling for 133 times since 2014. So mga twice a week siyang bumibiyahe, walo po iyon—so an average of ten million pesos ang nilalabas nila,” he said during a Palace briefing.
“They smuggle many, many things. Jewelry and drugs kasi, ginamit nila puwesto nila,” Belgica told reporters.
The PACC commissioner also identified a certain “Mimbalawang” as the alleged smuggler of drugs and jewelry into the country through Naia Terminal 3.
“These people have probably links to rebels but we will still investigate,” he said.
“The fundraising activity was for illegal activities. They are part of a group that raises funds for certain groups. It could be terrorists or rebels,” Belgica said.
He added that only recently, the Mimbalawang couple were apprehended at Naia Terminal 3 for smuggling 1.9 kilograms of assorted pieces of gold jewelry valued at more or less P6 million.
Belgica also identified a customs supervisor named Lomodot Macabando who was trying to assist Mimbalawang in an attempt to smuggle gold.
Recently, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered two senior officials to leave their posts, bringing to 16 the number who have left office since 2016 over corruption, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Assistant Secretary Moslemen Macarambon of the Department of Justice and Assistant Secretary Tingagun Umpa of the Department of Public Works were asked to resign, otherwise, they would be fired.
Macarambon allegedly intervened for gold and jewellery smugglers at Pasay City’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Umpa, on the other hand, allegedly asked for commissions from contractors at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in the southern Philippines.
“These were based on the investigations done by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission,” Roque added.