The Bureau of Customs (BOC) yesterday slapped charges against 17 officers of farmers’ cooperatives for their illegal rice importations in the Port of Cagayan De Oro (CDO) last year.

The BOC’s Run After The Smugglers (RATS) group filed complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Angela George Guia DJ Kamahara, chairperson of the Jefmin Farmers Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

Also included in the charge sheet were nine officers of the Bubog Farmers Cooperative led by its chairman Phol E. Lahip.

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said Jefmin officers were charged for illegally importing 17,500 bags of rice from India through the CDO Port in November, 2012.

“They had no import permits from the NFA (National Food Authority) for their rice shipments,” said Biazon.

On the other hand, he said the BOC filed charges against Bubog cooperative officers for their foiled attempt to smuggle 5,000 bags of long grain white rice from Vietnam, which arrived in the same port last year.

They are facing charges for violations of Sections 3601 and 3602 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP). (