Several deny allegations
(Eagle News) — A Customs broker named Customs employees and officials he said received grease money from him for every shipment transaction.
During the ways and means committee hearing into the P6.4-billion drug shipment that entered the country in May, Mark Taguba named Deputy Commissioner Teddy Raval of the intelligence group; Atty. Philip Maronilla of the Manila International Container Terminal; Teddy Sagaral; a certain Major Gutierrez who passed away last month; Director Niel Estrella of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services; Director Milo Maestrecampo of the Import and Assessment Service; a certain Mayta and Jayson.
Maronilla, Estrella, Maestrecampo, Sagaral and Estrella denied the allegations.
Maestrecampo added his good reputation had been tarnished and that he would step down from office.
“Sana naman yung walang kinalaman maclear,” he said.
Asked if Taguba gave the grease money personally to any of the accused, he said no.
He said one of his men would give the money to several personalities, who he believed were the men of Customs officials.
For instance, he said he would give P10,000 to one Tita Nani for every shipment transaction.
Asked who Tita Nani was, one Customs official said one Hernani Co worked for the Bureau of Customs.
The lawmakers are set to summon her for the next hearing.
He said one Chris Bulastig told him he was collecting money for the Office of the Commissioner, although Taguba said he did not give him any money.
According to Taguba, the payment would take place outside the BoC, every Friday.
He said this was already the system in place when he became a Customs broker.