CHRISTMAS lights carelessly killed Jose de Venecia Jr.’s daughter two years ago. Yet evil vendors apparently haven’t learned from the ghost of holidays past, and are flooding department stores anew with defective blinkers which could explode and cause fires. In response to such reports, a ranking Bureau of Customs (BoC) official has ordered police and intelligence units all over the country to strictly monitor shipment of electric devices from China, specifically Christmas lights.

Deputy Commissioner and Intelligence and Enforcement Group chief Celso Templo instructed his men from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service(CIIS), the Intelligence Division (ID) and the bureau’s Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) to also inspect light switches and electrical conduits from China, which reportedly produce low quality and hazardous devices.

Templo issued the directive following reports that huge shipments of defective Christmas lights have arrived at several BOC ports all over the country. A part of the illegal cargo has reportedly been released from Customs custody without proper clearance from the Bureau of Product Standard (BPS).

The BOC chief said that electrical devices must be inspected and cleared by the BPS of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) before these could be examined by Customs personnel and released. This, after the importer has paid the required taxes and duties.

Reports reaching the DepCom and IG chief office claimed that several retailers in Divisoria are now selling the hazardous Christmas at P20 per 100 bulb.

“Baka nakakalimutan na ng mga awtoridad natin na maraming buhay na ang nakitil dahil sa mga mumurahin at madaling masunog na Christmas lights. Ilan dito ay ang buhay ng anak ng isang congressman at buhay din ng isang tauhan ng BOC,” a concerned buyer said.

Reports also claimed that four 40-foot container vans of Christmas lights have been released from the Port of Manila.

Examiners from Section 15 of the POM led by one Mr. Mercinilla admitted to People’s Tonight that the four container vans of electrical devices inluding Christmas lights, were released after the importer showed them a clearance from the BPS.

“Dapat nga may representative ang BPS dito sa bureau, upang madetermina kung pasado nga ba o hindi ang sinasabing mga Christmas lights galing China. Sa nakita namin sa actual na examination ng mga mumurahing Christmas lights na galing Tsina, napuna namin na manipis ang insulation nito at anim lang ang wire strands. Ito ay paglabag sa safety requirement na ipinatutupad ng mga awtoridad natin,” a Customs intelligence personnel said. “Ang mga ligtas na Christmas lights ay yaong may pito hanggang walong hibla ng tansong wire stands at nababalot ng makapal na insulation at nakalagay naman sa isang kahong pakete.”

The defective Christmas lights from China could easily be spotted as these are wrapped only in cellophane and secured by rubber band.

“Paano masisiguro na 100 percent na ligtas ang mga Christmas lights na yan ay kung saan-saang backyard manufacturer daw lang sa Tsina ginagawa ang mga ’yun at nabibili ng mura dito”, the same source said.

Intelligence sources from the POM and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) said there are more than 30 container vans of electrical devices from China now being processed by different brokers and importers.
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apat na 40 footer na container van na puro Xmas lights..