Two Customs brokers will be detained for refusing to identify suspects involved in smuggling operations in Cebu.
Cited in contempt by the Senate agriculture panel on Monday, brokers Lujin Tenero and Brenda de Sagun will be detained at the Senate or the Pasay City Jail.
Tenero and De Sagun are linked to consumer goods trading companies operating at Subic ports.
Inconsistencies in their testimonies prompted Sen. Francis Pangilinan, chair of the Senate agriculture, food and agrarian reform committee, to cite them in contempt.
Senators are probing Tenero and De Sagun for P40 million and P59 million worth of smuggled agricultural products, respectively.
Pangilinan and Sen. JV Ejercito urged the brokers to reveal details and apply as state witnesses.
Economic sabotage through agricultural smuggling is punishable by life in prison, they stressed.
At the inquiry, Tenero claimed that a certain ‘Carlos’ approached him to facilitate container imports.
‘All we are asking for is Mr. Carlos’ last name. And you refuse to answer. You are hereby cited in contempt of this committee,’ Pangilinan said.
Tenero recalled meeting Carlos at the Subic pier, where he signed documents for four containers as part of his broker duties.
He said he trusted Carlos as an authorized representative.
De Sagun, for her part, clarified that she had lent her client’s license to facilitate the import of goods, but denied knowing ‘Mr. Vicente,’ the person who allegedly rented it.
Several containers escorted by personnel of the Bureau of Customs were left unattended at a warehouse, raising questions about procedural lapses, Agriculture Undersecretary Carlos Carag and BOC officials said earlier.