Sources from the local Bureau of Customs (BOC) office announced that two members of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) were relieved late last month after the Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. (CCBI) accused them of anomalies.
In a memorandum to the district collector of customs in Davao City, CIIS Mindanao Chief Halleck Valdez said he already recalled CIIS agents Abundio Jumamoy and Mario Luzon upon the request of BOC General Santos Port Collector Lowell Medija.
Customs brokers earlier accused Jumamoy and Luzon of harassing them and several manufacturing companies in order to extort money.
In a letter to Customs Commissioner Antonio Bernardo, brokers claimed the two threatened to cause delays and deliveries of canned tuna and other shipments if the brokers would not give grease money to customs officials.
Jumamoy and Luzon reportedly demanded Usd 175 from customs brokers for every container of imported articles "even if the documents of which are still under process with the port's assessment unit."
Among the companies who complained about the two customs intelligence officials were General Tuna Corporation, Celebes Canning Corporation, T'boli Agricultural Development Inc., Monsanto Philippines Inc., and some other companies in General Santos City.
Both Jumamoy and Luzon could not be reached for comment, as they were transferred elsewhere.