INSPECTING the confiscated aircraft are BoC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña and BoC NAIA-District Collector Mimel Talusan at PADC Hangar III, General Aviation/Ramp Area Domestic Airport, Pasay City. ANTHONY CHING The Bureau of Customs (BoC)–Port of NAIA ordered on Monday the forfeiture of an 80-seater aircraft of Skyjet Airline after its owners failed to pay the customs duties and taxes from the time of its importation.

The plane was also being used for commercial flights, also without paying taxes.

In an emailed statement, the BoC said it took custody of the plane last March 29 after its owner was unable to show proof of payment of duties and taxes and other documents on the acquisition of the aircraft and its operations.

The Bureau added that based on reports, aircraft owner and operator Magnum Air Inc. had already been delisted from the Subic Bay Freeport List Locators and had ceased operations since 2014.

According to the Bureau, the Skyjet aircraft worth P583.6 million was flagged by the District Collector of Subic Port when authorities could not find any record of import entry filed by the owner.

The inspection was conducted by the Philippine Aerospace Development Corp. (PADC) Hangar III at the Domestic Airport in Pasay City.

The forfeited aircraft was found operating in a hangar of the NAIA General Aviation Area as SkyJet Airlines when inspection was conducted by Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena together with NAIA District Collector Carmelita Talusan on Monday.

“Presently, the aircraft is forfeited in favor of the government after finding that its importation was attended with fraud and for being used in commercial flights since its importation without payment of customs duties and taxes,” said Commissioner Lapena.

Collector Talusan had reportedly forewarned the aircraft on March 29, 2017 and even requested for a Letter of Authority to demand proof of payment of duties and taxes as no record of any import entry or warehousing entry had been filed by the owners.

However, the aircraft ended up being forfeited for multiple violation of Sections 224 (Power to Inspect and Visit), 400 (Goods to be Imported through Customs Office), 401 (Importation Subject to Goods Declaration) and 405 (Liability of Importer for Duties and Taxes) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Magnum Air Inc. has been given 15 days to present the ownership and operation documents of the aircraft and directed the company to pay around P90,000 for customs duties and taxes on top penalties and charges.

The company is also said to have already filed an appeal against the forfeiture order of the Port of NAIA which is now pending hearing at the Legal Services.

BoC said that if the company fails to comply with the requirements, it would result in the issuance of a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the Skyjet aircraft, which will then undergo a public auction. With a report from Raymart Lolo