The National Bureau of Investigation in Dumaguete City confiscated Wednesday more or less 80 bails of relief goods from the United States which were instead being sold by an “illegal” distributor of used clothing or ukay-ukay.
The NBI operatives, armed with a search warrant, swooped down on the suspect after a call from the United States Homeland Security that said unscrupulous persons were taking advantage of the relief goods that were diverted to Negros Oriental.
Instead of distributing the used clothing to victims of the recent calamities like typhoons Sendong, Pablo and Yolanda, the shipment is being commercialized, sold and distributed in this part of the country.
NBI special investigator Ma. Contessa Lastimoso disclosed that the bails of relief goods appear to be from the United States Agency for International Development but for some reason these were diverted to a certain Romeo Omictin in Barangay Banilad, Dumaguete City.
Upon receiving the intelligence report from the US Homeland Security, Lastimoso said she went undercover and made a test buy of one bail of the ukay-ukay worth P5,800, without a receipt.
The amount per bail ranges from P5,000 to P17,000, depending on the quality of the relief goods inside the bail.
A search warrant was issued by the regional trial court against Romeo Omictin with temporary residence in Barangay Banilad.
However, the subject person was not around during the raid except for his son Russel and two other workers.
Proof that the bails of relief goods are from the US is the presence of the canvass with markings “USAID” that were being used as sunshade and to cover the gates of Omictin’s residence.
Omictin is facing charges of violating provisions of RA 4653, an act to safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation by declaring it a policy to prohibit the commercial importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing.
This does not discount the possibility of filing charges against him for violation of the tax code for conducting business without a mayor’s permits, for selling goods without receipts, among others, Lastimoso pointed out.
The NBI said it is seriously looking into reports several other individuals in Negros Oriental are selling relief goods in bails in violation of taxation laws.
Inspite of existing laws, Lastimoso admits that government maybe tolerant about this.
In fact, small retailers of relief goods are allowed to acquire business permits and issue official receipts.
Village chief Raul Bana said he did not realize it was illegal to sell used clothing because a lot of displays can be seen everywhere even in his barangay and even in the city proper.
Omictin’s son Russel disowns the business, saying someone only hired his father but he did not mention names.
For her part, the Social Welfare & Development NIR Regional Director made it clear that under the procedure, it is now the call of the NBI to keep or eventually release the confiscated used clothing to the local government units or to the social welfare office.
What is important is that recipient LGUs should really plan on how to distribute the same, it should not be allowed to be stored in the bodegas but should be sorted out for distribution in times of emergencies and calamities.
Lucero, however, clarified DSWD would prefer not to receive used clothing from any sources for health reasons but food items and non-food items like toiletries instead.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs in Dumaguete City has clarified that the shipment of more or less 80 bails of used clothing that were confiscated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) did not pass through the port of Dumaguete.
Customs deputy collector Datu Camad Ali issued the statement following insinuations the shipment could not have reached the city without the knowledge of port authorities.
NBI special investigator Ma. Contessa Lastimoso disclosed a lot of agencies are involved in the shipment but primarily it is the Bureau of Customs that has jurisdiction over the matter.
She said some of the stocks arrived in Dumaguete passing through a lot of seaports to include Manila, Bacolod and Mindanao.
How the shipment got to Dumaguete is now a subject of an investigation. (JFP/JG)
