By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, Sept. 22 (PNA) – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Tuesday said the Bureau of Customs (BOC) should look deeper into sugar smuggling following a reported attempt of former Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres to intervene in the smuggled sugar shipment from Thailand.
”They should dig deeper into this. This could be the lead for Commissioner Lina to dig deeper into sugar smuggling,” Drilon said in a media interview.
The Senate leader said Torres has no business getting involved in trying to bring out the Php100-million shipments of smuggled sugar.
Drilon denied alleged claims by Torres that the proceeds of the sale of the smuggled shipment will be used to fund the election campaign of the administration candidates.
”That’s crazy. There is absolutely no basis, and they are trying just lying. They are trying to save their necks,” Drilon said.
For his part, Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero said the BOC should file smuggling charges against Torres.
”Cases must be filed against her if indeed there is evidence,” Escudero said.
Torres reportedly admitted that she had gone to the BOC but only to inquire about the shipment owned by her friend Philip Sy.
She claimed Sy told her that the shipment was general merchandise and not smuggled sugar.
The former LTO chief, who two years ago was caught on camera gambling in casino while still in active service, said she reprimanded Sy upon learning that the shipment was smuggled sugar. (PNA)