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It’s gotten to the point where we are skeptical of good news.
“In a press briefing on Mon, Sep 21, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that Malacañang will not tolerate the actions of former Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres who reportedly tried to negotiate the release of smuggled Thai sugar worth more than PHP100 million from the Bureau of Customs (BOC),” reports Aries Joseph Hegina on Inquirer.net.
The report noted: “A report from the Inquirer revealed that on August 20, Torres showed up at the Customs Intelligence Group (CIG) office to negotiate the release of at least 64 shipping containers which contained the smuggled Thai sugar. Torres, a known shooting buddy of President Benigno Aquino III, reportedly dropped Aquino’s name, suggested that the proceeds of the sale of the illegally imported sugar will be used in the 2016 elections and claimed that she had contacts with the Sugar Regulatory Administration. However, the BoC thumbed down her request.”
Lacierda was quoted as saying, “Well, it is very clear that in the recent case—we don’t have the facts, and based only on what was accounted in the Inquirer story, it shows the resolve also of this government that we will not countenance any influence peddling and no matter who you are.”
Lacierda added, “We commend the decision of and the conduct of the BOC officials in making sure that we do not condone smuggling in our shores and in our ports.”
The report explained that “Torres admitted negotiating with the BoC for the release of shipment containing ‘general merchandise’ for her friend Philip Sy.” She said she didn’t know that the shipment actually contained smuggled sugar.
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