Subic Port collector asked to explain release of 15 smuggled racehorses
The Bureau of Customs on Wednesday ordered the collector of Subic Port to explain the questionable release of 15 racehorses allegedly misdeclared as breeding horses.
Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said they are also asking Subic Port Collector Marietta Zamoranos to present pertinent documents regarding the release.
“We need to see a copy of the import entry of the horses to determine what was the declared value, since earlier reports revealed that the horses were declared to cost only $800 each,” Morales said.
Agents from the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) intercepted the animals, which were imported from Australia by Jade Farms in Batangas, for technical smuggling last Monday.
Morales said that they need to determine under which classification, breeding horses or racehorses, truly belong.
Importers of breeding horses are required to pay three percent of the duty rate while importers of race horses need to pay seven percent of the dutiable value.
Morales added that they want also to know if the importation was able to secure import permits from the Bureau of Animal Industry since it is a regulated importation.
“We must also determine if the horses have import permits from the Bureau of Animal Industry because it is a regulated importation, and all live animal importations are first subject to quarantine to ensure that they are not carriers of disease,” he said.
He noted that the release of questionable shipment is the responsibility of the port collector.
“He or she is the alter ego of the commissioner in the port so she should be on top of the situation,” he said. - GMANews.TV
Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said they are also asking Subic Port Collector Marietta Zamoranos to present pertinent documents regarding the release.
“We need to see a copy of the import entry of the horses to determine what was the declared value, since earlier reports revealed that the horses were declared to cost only $800 each,” Morales said.
Agents from the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) intercepted the animals, which were imported from Australia by Jade Farms in Batangas, for technical smuggling last Monday.
Morales said that they need to determine under which classification, breeding horses or racehorses, truly belong.
Importers of breeding horses are required to pay three percent of the duty rate while importers of race horses need to pay seven percent of the dutiable value.
Morales added that they want also to know if the importation was able to secure import permits from the Bureau of Animal Industry since it is a regulated importation.
“We must also determine if the horses have import permits from the Bureau of Animal Industry because it is a regulated importation, and all live animal importations are first subject to quarantine to ensure that they are not carriers of disease,” he said.
He noted that the release of questionable shipment is the responsibility of the port collector.
“He or she is the alter ego of the commissioner in the port so she should be on top of the situation,” he said. - GMANews.TV
Labels: boc, pasg, race horses, sbma, smuggling, subic bay freeport
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
5:48 AM
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