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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced on Monday, 9 November that it will file criminal complaints against 11 individuals in connection with the seizure of an estimated ₱13 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes that were discovered in June. The cases will be filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) after an investigation into 59 shipping containers that were intercepted at two Philippine ports. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the bureau will submit two separate complaints. “Our team is going to the DOJ today to file ‘yung case na ito,’” he told reporters. He described the seizure as one of the country’s largest anti‑smuggling operations, citing the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s estimate of ₱13 billion. “Actually this is the biggest or one of the biggest agricultural haul ng law enforcement sa Pilipinas,” Matibag added. The NBI recommends prosecuting the respondents for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 12022, the Anti‑Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. Offenses under the law carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment, and the complaints could lead to non‑bailable charges. The named respondents are Calvin Boniface Gothong, Clement Bryan Gothong, Liza Gothong, Chad Benedict Gothong, Lili Gothong, Karen Joy Betasolo, Rose Marie Trilles, Jomar Demos, James Gabriel Verallo, and two individuals identified by the aliases Henry Lim Co and Ted Lim Chan. The investigation seeks to establish accountability beyond those directly transporting the shipments. “We are just answering to the call of the public na palagi na lang may nahuhuling tayong smuggling pero ang nakakasuhan lang ‘yung mga pahinante at tsaka ‘yung driver,” Matibag said. “This time we are going after the big fishes para mapanagutin natin,” he added. Matibag also noted that the volume of the shipments and the presence of internationally marked containers at privately operated local ports should have raised concerns among those responsible for port operations. “Sa volume na ‘yun impossibleng hindi mo nalalaman kung ‘yung pumasok sa iyo na ‘yun. Tsaka if it’s a local port na privately operated, ‘yung presence pa lang alone ng mga international containers, may markings ‘ng mga containers, so that should be a red flag already,” he said. The complaints remain allegations subject to preliminary investigation by the DOJ. Filing the complaints does not establish the respondents’ guilt. Article source: The Daily Tribune | Image credit: The Daily Tribune
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced on Monday, 9 November that it will file criminal complaints against 11 individuals in connection with the seizure of an estimated ₱13 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes that were discovered in June. The cases will be filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) after an investigation into 59 shipping containers that were intercepted at two Philippine ports. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the bureau will submit two separate complaints. “Our team is going to the DOJ today to file ‘yung case na ito,’” he told reporters. He described the seizure as one of the country’s largest anti‑smuggling operations, citing the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s estimate of ₱13 billion. “Actually this is the biggest or one of the biggest agricultural haul ng law enforcement sa Pilipinas,” Matibag added. The NBI recommends prosecuting the respondents for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 12022, the Anti‑Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. Offenses under the law carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment, and the complaints could lead to non‑bailable charges. The named respondents are Calvin Boniface Gothong, Clement Bryan Gothong, Liza Gothong, Chad Benedict Gothong, Lili Gothong, Karen Joy Betasolo, Rose Marie Trilles, Jomar Demos, James Gabriel Verallo, and two individuals identified by the aliases Henry Lim Co and Ted Lim Chan. The investigation seeks to establish accountability beyond those directly transporting the shipments. “We are just answering to the call of the public na palagi na lang may nahuhuling tayong smuggling pero ang nakakasuhan lang ‘yung mga pahinante at tsaka ‘yung driver,” Matibag said. “This time we are going after the big fishes para mapanagutin natin,” he added. Matibag also noted that the volume of the shipments and the presence of internationally marked containers at privately operated local ports should have raised concerns among those responsible for port operations. “Sa volume na ‘yun impossibleng hindi mo nalalaman kung ‘yung pumasok sa iyo na ‘yun. Tsaka if it’s a local port na privately operated, ‘yung presence pa lang alone ng mga international containers, may markings ‘ng mga containers, so that should be a red flag already,” he said. The complaints remain allegations subject to preliminary investigation by the DOJ. Filing the complaints does not establish the respondents’ guilt.
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