An operation officer of the Bureau of Customs who frequented Dubai, United Arab Emirates to buy gold and then smuggle to the Philippines was nabbed by Philippine authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 last month (May).

The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) said they conducted a background check on officer Lumontod Macabando, and the agency discovered that he has been facilitating a jewelry business operated by a smuggling ring.

The jewelries he brings to the Philippines are not properly declared before the Bureau of Customs (BOC), PhilStar reported.

The ploy of the smuggling ring was simple: the courier is provided with escorts upon arrival at the airport who are members of BOC, Manila International Airport Authority, Philippine National Police, and other government agencies.  

Upon arrival at the airport, they are given special treatment, where their hand-carry or check-in luggage does not go to proper inspection to evade proper documentation of the huge bulk of jewelries.

“Mga P10 billion na po ang estimate namin, dahil itong nahuli namin has been traveling for 133 times from 2014,” Greco Belgica, PACC commissioner told the report.

Macabando faces dismissal from service with perpetual disqualification.

Morever, Belgica said the PACC has referred to the BOC “the filing of administrative cases, complaint summary hearing and for dismissal and perpetual disqualification for public office” against Macabando; lawyers Ambrosi Basman and Rohani Basman; Anisa Lumogtod, Amelquir Macabando, said to be an ex-mayor of Marawi City; prosecutor Samina Sambaco Macabando Usman.

He also implicated OIC Pasay Prosecutor Benjamin Lanto, an allegedly relative of Macabando; inquest prosecutor Clemente Villanueva, assistant city prosecutor Florencio Dela Cruz as among those to be investigated.

Officer-in-charge at the arrival operations division named Elizabeth Pableo will also be investigated as regards her knowledge in the smuggling ring. Currently, she, along with Marlon Agaceta, chief of legal division of the BOC at the NAIA, is placed under preventive suspension.

The PACC has recommended to President Duterte the filing of cases related to graft as well as perpetual disqualification from office before the Office of the Ombudsman, said the report.