DOJ dismisses rice smuggling case vs trading firm

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed the smuggling case against a trading company and its officials who has been accused by the Bureau of Customs of illegally importing P2 million worth of rice from Vietnam.

In a resolution signed by Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan, he said there is not enough evidence to show that All Systems Logistics Inc. (ASLI) “knowingly smuggled the subject shipment of Vietnam fragrant rice into the Philippines.”

Meanwhile, ASLI wrote a letter clarifying the matter. (See photo below)

“It is apparent that prior to the arrival of the subject shipment in Philippine ports, or as early as 13 March 2013, respondents, through their Cebu office, categorically advised Lucky Nguyen of Mat Bien Maritime Company to have the carrier retain the shipment on board and to return the same to Vietnam because the commodity is a ‘prohibited importation’… This is shown in the… thread of emails between respondents… and Lucky Nguyen elaborating why respondents refused to extend any assistance to Mat Bien pertaining to the entry and unloading of the subject rice into Philippine ports. Moreover, because of Mat Bien’s non-compliance with the required importation documents, respondents decisively informed Mat Bien that they could not accept the shipment considering that it was not a transaction of their company, All Systems Logistics, Inc,” the resolution further stated.

Also named in the complaint are ASLI officers led by its Chairman of the Board Mary Lou T. Estrada, its Chief Executive Officer Antonio G. Estrada, corporate Secretary Humphrey D. Tumaneng, treasurer Ana Myrna Gonzales and director Anthony Dexer C. Yu.

The DOJ, in its ruling, further said that the circumstances did not prove any purported wilful intent of the respondents to fraudulently bring into the Philippines the prohibited merchandise.

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