PNP-HPG files complaint vs 2 Customs officers in Bulacan warehouse raid

MANILA, Philippines — A complaint has been filed against two personnel of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) who were present in the warehouse in Bulacan that was raided for allegedly containing “smuggled” cigarette products.

The seven-page complaint, filed before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Malolos City, Bulacan, stated that alleged middleman Jesus Froilan Acebes Carpiso identified two BOC personnel as among those present at the warehouse when the entrapment operation was conducted, according to his sworn affidavit.

Filed by the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) on Friday, Aug. 28, the complaint asked the prosecutor’s office to admit Carpiso’s sworn statement, along with other supporting documentary and/or electronic evidence subsequently obtained, and consider these as integral parts of the records of the case.

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READ: PNP says HPG-BOC confrontation in Bulacan ‘isolated incident’

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It also stated that the two BOC personnel, along with another individual, should be included in the preliminary investigation and the determination of probable cause, with “appropriate subpoenas” issued against them.

The PNP-HPG complainants said the complaint should be resolved based on the totality of the evidence and that the existence or absence of probable cause should be determined individually for each respondent.

In his sworn affidavit, Carpiso stated that the two personnel were present at the Bulacan warehouse when the Regional Highway Patrol Unit-National Capital Region conducted the raid.

He identified the two BOC personnel as the individuals who allegedly received payment in exchange for 225 boxes of allegedly smuggled Red Carnival cigarettes during the entrapment, or buy-bust, operation on Aug. 19.

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Carpiso allegedly served as the middleman who facilitated the sale of the smuggled cigarettes.

In an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel on Aug. 25, BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno claimed that he had no knowledge of individuals identified by the aliases “Joy” and “Alex.”

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However, a BOC memorandum dated Aug. 20 indicated that the two were among those who prepared an incident report concerning the Bulacan raid.

Earlier, Nepomuceno said the BOC will file a complaint with the National Police Commission against members of the PNP-HPG who allegedly accosted customs personnel destroying smuggled cigarettes seized in operations.

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“If our personnel are in the wrong, then we will find out,” he said.