Impounded Taiwanese boat at Currimao port undergoes thorough inspection

The PCG impounds a Taiwanese boat at the Port of Currimao in Ilocos Norte. (Lei Adriano)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Laoag City—A Taiwanese fishing boat with a cargo of about 2,000 boxes of imported cigarettes underwent a thorough inspection on Nov. 25 after it was impounded by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at the port of Currimao in this province.

Suspected of containing cargo with smuggled cigarettes and prohibited drugs, the foreign vessel was held for the meantime at Currimao seaport pending the release of a search and seizure warrant from the Bureau of Customs based in Aparri, Cagayan to allow the conduct of an intensive search operation and avoid technicality in the filing of appropriate charges against those who are on board a wooden-hulled boat skippered by Taiwanese skipper, Chen Yon Ji with two other Taiwanese nationals and four Indonesian crewmen.

On November 19 evening, a joint operation of the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the PCG was conducted at the Currimao seaport as they received a tip that a foreign vessel with a cargo of alleged smuggled cigarettes will be docking at the Currimao seaport that evening.

As a general protocol, the PCG took custody of the items and the Taiwanese boat with the markings CT4-2489 and CT4-2189 on the starboard and port sides to verify documentation compliance while waiting for the Warrant of Seizure and Detention to be issued by the Bureau of Customs (BoC).

During the operation activity, two Isuzu cargo trucks bearing plate numbers GCP 747 and YGK 454 were also intercepted while loading boxes sealed with a black plastic wrap from the fishing boat.

It turned out however that the operation was “negative”.

Atty. Josephuz Nerez, legal counsel of the Bumijaya International Trading Inc. said the items have complete documents with bill of lading.

The Taiwanese vessel was supposedly heading to Vietnam but it went back due to bad weather.

Earlier, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos has urged local authorities to inspect the vessel and ensure that proper protocol is observed.

Comments

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

PGIN honors Ilocano heroes of past, present through Heroes Walk

SPO1 Allan Lampitoc Franco of Banna, Ilocos Norte and PO2 Jovalyn D. Lozano of Adams, Ilocos Norte receive a resolution of commendation, a certificate of college scholarship grant to their family members and a P20,000 cash incentive each from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte represented by Governor Imee R. Marcos and Vice Governor Angelo M. Barba in recognition of their bravery and heroic acts in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao on January 25. Mr. Franco and Mr. Lozano were recognized on March 10 in time for the unveiling of the second batch of Ilocano heroes at the Heroes Walk located along the Sirib Mile in Laoag City. (Lei Adriano) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO In honor of the heroes who brought freedom, fame and glory to the province as well as to the country in the past century, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Education Department and Sirib Youth Office launched the second batch of Ilocano Heroes Walk on March 10, 2015.

Pagudpud’s tourism transformer passes away

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Retired Philippine Air Force Col. Ricardo Nolasco Jr., owner of Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte passed away on Wednesday evening, July 11, 2018. He was 67. “He did not survive an open-heart surgery,” said Ronald Dominguez, spokesperson of the largest resort at Brgy. Balaoi in Pagudpud. Known as the architect behind the transformation of Pagudpud town as a premiere destination of the north, Mr. Nolasco put up Hannah’s Beach Resort in what was originally meant as a family vacation resort. The rest is history when it expanded into more than 300-room executive villas and cabanas, with on-going infrastructure developments and set up various amenities. As a result, hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists visit here daily. The resort is on a cliff by the beach, which provides a spectacular view of the sparkling blue lagoon. “Yesterday will go down my lifeline as one

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog