黑料社

MANILA, Philippines鈥擭ewly-appointed Customs commissioner John Sevilla was called 鈥渧ery arrogant鈥� after failing to attend a House investigation into an alleged P200 million onion and garlic anomaly Tuesday.

In the committee on good government and public accountability hearing on Tuesday, Leyte Representative Andres Salvacion Jr. chastised Sevilla when he failed to show up for a second time on the investigation into the purportedly anomalous issuance of importation permit by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

鈥淵our commissioner is very arrogant. He always ignores (our invitation for the investigation),鈥� Salvacion told Cesar Corpuz who was sent by Sevilla to represent him.

鈥淢aybe he only considers the President of the Republic. He does not consider his responsibility of attending the hearing,鈥� he added.

1-Bap Rep. Silvestre Bello III urged the panel to compel Sevilla to submit in writing why he failed to attend hearings.

鈥淭he commissioner is sick with arrogance. I would like to move that the commissioner be allowed to explain in writing why he failed to attend,鈥� Bello said.

According to Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga鈥檚 resolution calling for a probe, 聽a certain Leah Cruz operated the P200 million importation scam.

Only the companies of Cruz were supposedly granted permits by the BPI to import garlic and onions.

Cruz allegedly used dummy companies owned by her drivers, clerks and house helpers as owners of her companies, according to the resolution.

Cruz then operated a 鈥渕onopoly鈥� that allowed her to profit 鈥渢hrough fraudulent means in the amount of almost P200 million.鈥�

Cruz was likened to controversial businesswoman Napoles who allegedly operated a billion pesos racket on lawmakers鈥� discretionary pork barrel funds using bogus non-government organizations for kickbacks.

Napoles is jailed on charges of illegal detention.

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