The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has asked the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to look into the possible criminal liabilities of two Liberal Party (LP) officials over the multibillion-peso exports of their mining firm to China. ADVERTISEMENTMisdeclarationThe BOC was specifically asked to determine if there was undervaluation and misdeclaration of the nickel ore shipments by SRMI to China from its mining operations since 2006. BMEC alleged that SRMI generated over P28 billion in ore sales over the past 10 years without government records of tax payments to either the local government in Agusan del Norte or the national government. It accused the mining firm of possible violation of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines. “The small-scale mining operation in just one year beginning 2006 had sold P2.8 billion — and exceeded the yearly 50,000-ton limit many times over.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 11, 2018 21:33 UTC