Customs vows to cooperate on melamine probe
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/07/2008 5:25 PM
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Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales on Tuesday said the bureau is willing to cooperate with the investigation called by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago into the alleged smuggling of melamine-tainted milk and other food products into the country.
“As manifested by Senator Santiago, we will look into that if there is indeed an infraction committed by my personnel. Because as I have said all personnel of the Bureau of Customs have a specific duty and responsibility, and these are all accountable officers,” he said in an interview.
Santiago made the call Monday after health officials raised concerns that Chinese milk products contaminated with melamine were smuggled goods.
Morales said that he has already instructed Bureau of Customs personnel to retrieve all documents pertaining to the entry of China-made milk products.
“Yes, I’ve directed all district collectors, especially the Manila International Container Port (MICP) as well as the port of Manila. This is the biggest port in the entire country. To retrieve all documents pertaining to milk products from China,” he said.
Morales added that products entering the country require registration from the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) as well as a license to operate. However, he admitted that some personnel may have overlooked the requirements.
“Even if it comes from any other country, it needs a product registration by BFAD as well as the license to operate. We could possibly check if these documents have been complied with. Now if there is no such document, that’s the time when we’ll file charges against our personnel,” he said.
Corruption at Customs?
Santiago had said that corruption is prevalent in the bureau since its personnel are basically paid off to deliberately turn a blind eye on container vans with contraband.
She said that after the Senate identifies the culprits in the bureau for the smuggling of melamine-tainted milk, it should refer the matter to the Ombudsman for prosecution and dismissal of those involved.
However, Morales stressed that they are yet to find that out. He added that corruption may only be proven if the consignee fails to show the registration papers relevant to every imported product.
“That will be included. So we’re trying to retrieve all entries. Without these two documents, that’s the time that corruption exists. Now if all of these import entries have the certificate of registration and the license to operate, I don’t think that there is indeed corruption,” he said.
Morales added that based on a circular from the Department of Health, the importation of China-made milk products was banned only on September 25.
"Prior to the issuance of the banning order, the circular of Secretary (Francisco) Duque, these two documents [were] the only ones submitted," he said.
