Authorities led by the Bureau of Customs found P1.8 billion worth of goods, including local and imported sugar, in another inspection at a warehouse in Batangas.
In a statement, the BOC said its team arrived at the warehouse inside the Central Asucarera Don Pedro in Barangay Lumbangan in Nasugbu town on Sunday where they found the items.
The inspecting team found at least 181,299 sacks of imported MITR PHOL brand of pure refined sugar from Thailand and some 197,590 sacks of the local Don Pedro white sugar. Each sack contains 50 kilograms of sugar.
The BOC said it may be one of the agency’s “biggest operations to date” since inspections of sugar storage facilities began in August.
An inventory of the imported goods and sugar found in the warehouse will be conducted by the assigned Customs examiners and will be witnessed by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, and warehouse representatives.
The team has temporarily padlocked, sealed, and placed caution tapes on the entrances and exits of the warehouse.
The BOC is leading surprise inspections nationwide, resulting in the discovery of stockpiles of sugar, which may or may not have been imported legally.
Meanwhile, the Senate blue ribbon committee said it will decide whether or not to compel
Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez to attend the succeeding hearings on the alleged unauthorized issuance of Sugar Order 4 that would have allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar into the country.
“His non-appearance tomorrow will have to be dealt with by the committee,” Committee chairman Francis Tolentino said.
“So we’ll decide that collegially if he is going to be required to be in the succeeding hearings or if there’s gonna be a move or what, within the bounds of the rules coming from the committee members,” he added.
Tolentino said it is important for Rodriguez to attend the Senate investigation as this will show respect to a co-equal branch of government.
“It’s vital to showcase a vibrant and healthy system of democracy…He should attend. As a lawyer, he should explain,” Tolentino said.