Just the same, reports of the supposed smuggling of firearms have prompted the BOC to review existing procedures in the exportation and importation of such weapons in the Philippines.
“Wala kaming findings of declared (firearms shipment) nung time na iyon, supposedly out of Mindanao lumabas yung guns. Nag-check kami doon sa aming port collectors sa Cagayan de Oro as well as other ports, walang ni-report, walang dineclare na exports of firearms at the time,” BOC Commissioner John Philip Sevilla said on Monday.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Yee was part of a conspiracy to deal firearms without a license. The firearms were supposed to be sourced from a separatist group in the Philippines.
Yee was arrested in March on charges of corruption and alleged conspiracy to illegally trade in firearms. The FBI also claims that Yee has associates in the Philippines “trying to overthrow the current government.”
“Ngayon, ang pinapa-check namin is ano ba yung mga existing procedures ngayon regardless of what port para masiguro natin na… hindi rin nakakalabas ng Pilipinas yung contraband,” Sevilla said.
Sevilla admitted that the government is “focused” more on monitoring the importation rather than exportation of products in the Philippines.
“This is a good reminder na ito pwede ring magkaroon ng illegal activity pagpalabas ng products,” he said.
“Ang emphasis lagi is preventing na makapasok ito (contraband). Ito ngayon, baliktad. So pinapa-review namin yan para ma-ensure na hindi napapabayaan iyan,” Sevilla added. — Mark Merueñas/KBK, GMA News
