by Kathleen A. Martin,
ABS-CBNnews.com
MANILA -- Phoenix Petroleum Philippines will appeal a Department of Justice decision recommending the indictment of the firm's chief for allegedly smuggling P5-billion worth of oil and petroleum products in 2010 and 2011.
"Either we will file for our part a Motion for Reconsideration or we will try to go to the court as long as rules of court allow it," Raymond Zorilla, vice president for external affairs at Phoenix Petroleum, told DZMM's Kabayan on Friday.
"Ang purpose naman po ng Motion for Reconsideration namin e baka may error sa paglabas ng reversal," Zorilla noted.
The DOJ resolution, dated April 24, reversed the dismissal of smuggling charges against Phoenix Petroleum's President and Chief Executive Dennis Ang Uy handed down by the same government agency in November 2011.
The most recent DOJ decision stemmed from the Bureau of Customs' Motion for Reconsideration filed earlier this year.
Zorilla said the resolution came as a surprise to the firm as it is currently preparing a rejoinder to file before the Justice department.
"Nagsampa sila (BOC) ng Motion for Reconsideration... tapos nag-file po kami ng comment, nag-file sila ng reply... Kami po ay magsasampa o magsusumite dapat ng rejoinder para pabulaanan lahat ng nakalagay sa reply [nila] pero habang nag-pe-prepare kami ng rejoinder e eto bumalaga na po at may reversal na," Zorilla recounted.
"Bureau of Customs filed their motion sometime in March and we are preparing our rejoinder according to the rules tapos ngayong April nga po lumabas [ang reversal]," he added.
Zorilla noted Phoenix Petroleum's Uy has not yet received his copy of the DOJ resolution as of this morning.
The firm, after news broke on Thursday afternoon, said in a disclosure it is confident Uy will be cleared of the smuggling charges.
"We are confident that Mr. Uy will again be cleared of all these baseless charges as all the company's importations are legitimate and legal," Phoenix Petroleum said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Finance on Friday said the recent DOJ ruling shows the government's commitment in going against smuggling.
"This resolution affirms the Aquino administration's commitment to fighting smuggling and upholding good governance," Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said in a statement.
"This is a major breakthrough in curbing oil smuggling in the Philippines," he continued.
