Customs orders seizure of 3 barges for charter violations
Balita News Services
CEBU CITY,July 10(PNA)--Cebu and Mactan Customs authorities have
ordered the seizure of three barges valued at over P100 million for
violation of their bareboat charter agreements.
The seizure order was made on recommendation of Frank Guevara,
officer-in-charge of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service
(CIIS) in the Visayas to Cebu district Customs Collector Rolando Yebes
and Mactan Customs Collector Ramon Anquilan.
The barges Jumbo Rock Carriers l,ll and ll which were renamed
Jamona V, VI AND VII are now at the Mandaue city anchorage.
Collector Anquilan issued the warrant of seizure and detention
(WSD) on the vessels addressed to Infrastructure and Development
Holdings Inc. and PDCP bank.
The basis for the seizure order was the fact that IDMI had
mortgaged the three vessels to PDCP bank in Makati city at P75 million
with additinal 31 million for the interest.
IDMI, owned by Rolando Soza and Santiago Tanchan Jr. had violated
customs rules and regulations with the mortgage since the vessels were
only chartered under a bareboat agreement and are subject to
re-exportation.
The re-export bonds of the vessel issued by Yasuda Insurance
Company in the amountof P6,619,290 for each had expired on March 5,
1998.
According to the CHS, IDMI may have defrauded the government in
customs duties and taxes by using the three barges as collateral which
is not allowed under the law.
In a bareboat charter agreement, imported vessels entering the
country on a lease agreement with local firms pay minimal duties at the
port of entry but such cannot be sold, subleased or mortgaged or used as
collateral for a loan.
Customs authorities said the vessels will be seized and forfeited
in favor of the government and later sold at public auction.(PNA)
rgc/wpt/EB/MSS/RE
PNA 07101631