By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Iloilo seized around P7 million worth of used clothing or locally known as “ukay-ukay” in a warehouse facility at Barangay Villamonte here last week.
Port authorities found the stocks during the inspection of a storage facility on May 3, through a Letter of Authority (LOA) signed by BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.
Upon inspection, the team discovered bales containing used clothing, shoes, bags, bed sheets and curtains.
The inspection was led by a composite team under the Port of Iloilo’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Field Station chief Intelligence Officer 1 Lot K. Abordo, Enforcement and Security Service-Customs Police Division (ESS-CPD) personnel and members of Customs Border Protection (CBP) -District VI Team, in coordination with Philippine National Police (PNP) and barangay officials.
On May 4, District Collector Ciriaco Ugay together with Collector Renevic Soliman of the Sub-Port of Pulupandan supervised the inventory of the seized goods conducted by Customs Examiners Jessie Nallos and Samson Alonsagay II.
Further investigation will be conducted against the owner for the possible filing of charges for violation of Republic Act 4653 which “prohibits the commercial importation of used clothing and rags to safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation.”
BOC- Port of Iloilo said it is committed in pursuing the mandate of the bureau in protecting the country’s borders against the entry of prohibited goods.
