Customs being challenged by influential forces involved in smuggling

BIR commissioner Sonny Sevilla and the rest of the deputy commissioners have just warmed their seats, when the Philippine Daily Inquirer released a two-part series describing how customs collections got affected by the illicit activities of three big-time smugglers of rice.

One of the three has been identified as Davidson Tan. It seems that this person is a pure Filipino-Chinese. What people do not know is that the surname of Davidson is not Tan, but Bantayan.

Yes, this person is indeed a Filipino-Chinese but his true surname is Bantayan, not Tan.

This alleged smuggler is quite known in the industry because of his strong links with a former official of the Aquino administration who now faces a criminal charge because of alleged graft and corruption when he was still an administrator. This person is once the communications adviser of a former PNP chief who became a legislator. He likewise advised a former president who was jailed.

Davidson is reportedly close to the Powers-That-Be. He is proximate to the Center of Power because of his alleged links with a presidential uncle. He likewise partners with a certain Danny Ngo.

Davidson is very influential. He came into influence during the time of Customs commissioner Napoleon "Boy" Morales.

Sources say, Davidson hires members of the NBI and the PNP as his bodyguards. He uses two persons by the names of Ely and Hermie. Ely reportedly gives the monthly take to the Commissioners while Hermie does the coordination with other officials.

Another "influential smuggler" who continues to operate in this country is a person named Tina Yu. Her full name is Tina Vidal.

This person claims to be friends with officials in the Aquino administration. She is reportedly very close to certain members of the Aquino cabinet and is "untouchable".

Other untouchable smugglers are the following:

Armand Ng, Richard Ng, Edwin Santos, Noel Mariano, Leonida Dalida alyas Josie Permeho and Ahan Chong. 

Now you know.

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