PASG clears Unioil
After verification of the import documents of Unioil, the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group clear Unioil and ordered the release of all its diesel products stored at the Terminal of Oilink in Lucanin, Mariveles, Bataan.
It can be recalled that PASG accompanied by suspended District Collector Edward Baltazar raided the Terminal of Oilink and sealed 4 tanks leased of Unioil allegedly for unpaid taxes.
However, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales in a statement the other day cleared Unioil of any liability. "The BoC have documents to prove that Unioil has paid the required duties and taxes of more than P245 Million." Morales declared.
Morales also disowned the raid because Baltazar was not authorized to do so having been suspended by the Ombudsman due to another extortion case filed against Baltazar.
Oilink Counsel Atty. Raymond T. Zorrilla said "We are relieved in the release of the products of Unioil. We were confident that the PASG will bear us out after the presentation of documents." We are one with the PASG in its drive to ferret out smuggling and we shall help them in any way we can." Zorrilla stressed.
"As we have been saying all along, the PASG may have been misled into conducting the operation against Oilink and the temporary holding of Unioil's products. We are vindicated to Usec. Villar for his prompt action on the documents presented and the immediate release of the petroleum products." Added Zorrilla.
The public now may be assured of a continued supply of petroleum products. It can be recalled that Unioil had implemented several big-time rollbacks higher than the other oil companies. This eventually led to a significant increase in sales at the same time giving to the public lower-priced fuels of the same quality.