Kaban ni D_BystandeR: GIUKAY ANG UKAY-UKAY???

NBI AGENTS CONFISCATE P1M ukay-ukay. Mabolo raid yields 52 bundles of imported used clothing. Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) yesterday (04/11/13) seized 52 bundles of used clothing imported into the country. The value of the assorted used clothings was pegged at P1M. NBI regional director Antonio Pagatpat said the importation of used clothing is prohibited under Republic Act (RA) 4653, the law which "prohibits the commercial importation of textile articles to safeguard the health of people and maintain the dignity of the nation." "The law against used clothing is clear. Used clothings are prohibited since they can affect the health of the people and the dignity of the country," Pagatpat said in Filipino yesterday. "The importation of used clothing gives a notion that our country has been the recipient of old things and clothings from other countries. We have a law against it. We should implement it," he said in Filipino. The NBI led by supervising agent Rennan Augustus Oliva barged into the  residence of businessman Sherwin Tee in barangay Mabolo, Cebu City yesterday morning. They served the search warrant issued by Municipal Trial Court in Cities Executive Judge Francisco Seville Jr.  Tee wasn't around but the NBI agents were able to recover bundles of used clothing which included T-shirts, and jeans. The  bundles of used clothing were brought to the NBI-7 office and would be presented  in court. Pagatpat said they would file charges against Tee for violating RA 4653 before the Cebu City Prosecutors' Office. Since Tee wasn't arrested, the complaint will undergo the regular preliminary investigation where Tee will be given a chance  to submit a counter-affidavit to refute the allegations. If there is enough basis, the complaint will be elevated to the trial court, otherwise, it will be dismissed. A fine ranging from P200 to P20,000 as well as imprisonment of not less than two years to five years shall be imposed upon persons found guilty of violating RA 4653. "They (used clothing) are now in our custody for safekeeping. It's up to the court how to disposed them. Of course, we will use them as evidence in the complaint that we are going to file," he said. Before applying for a search warrant, the NBI agents conducted a surveillance operations to verify upon that Tee was engaged in the business of used clothing. They also discovered that Tee's business has no permission from Cebu City government. Pagatpat said a poseur NBI-7 personnel bought a bundle of used clothing worth from Tee before the operation was hatched. A bundle of used clothing is worth between P7,000 to P15,000. Yesterday's operation was made in the presence of barangay officials of Mabolo. NBI-7 agent Oliva said they have to stop the spread of used clothing from it's source. "If we  will be able to stop the wholesale of used clothings, the streets will also be  addressed," he said.  

COMMENT: People have been used to buying this ukay-ukay products since the earliest time I can remember and this news is puzzling as  well as it is intriguing. How can the proponents of this Republic Act (RA) 4653 justify their assertion that this law aims to safeguard the health of the people and  maintain the dignity of the nation? People in the countrysides have been using these ukay-ukay products because it's all they can afford to buy what with  poverty of people increasing by leaps and bound with plenty of restrictive prohibitions the government imposed on our poor people to survive in this trying time. The imposition of  the EVAT 12% tax on all products and services as mandated by GMA during her  9-year stay in office has a crippling effect on the lives of the poor that expecting them to go to the department stores in the mall to buy their clothing needs would be like dreaming in a make-believe world of fantasy. All they can afford are those  pieces of clothing found in ukay-ukay where they can choose anything they want commensurate with what their pockets can afford. You cannot expect them to go to the malls where the prices are already prohibitive to them and denying them the access to these ukay-ukay products would be tantamount to prohibiting them from buying something to clothe their naked bodies.

It is the height of our lawmakers' failure and arrogance to comprehend the stark living conditions of our poor brothers in the countrysides who rely mainly on the ukay-ukay for their clothing needs. It is not far-fetched to believe that the people behind the textile and garment industry in our country are lobbying our lawmakers to sponsor a bill that is anti-poor that's why we can see enactment of laws like this which grossly runs counter to the ultimate benefit of the poor.

If they want to impose tax to this ukay-ukay then let it be but not to the extent that poor people in the countrysides have no more alternative to find because ukay-ukay prices will also become prohibitive and beyond the reach of the poor people's pockets!

Bug-os ang  pasalamat sa KAHAYAG ngadto sa magtatampo  nga si JOHNNY LOVE. Nagtakuban siya sa pangalan, "D_BystandeR".  Natawo siya sa Sugbo apan anaa na karon manimuyo sa Illinois sa tinipong nasod sa Amerika. Ang kusog nga koneksyon sa kasayuran pinaagi sa internet kanunayng naghaling sa iyang kadasig  pagtuki sa mga nagbukalbukal nga hisgutanan dinhi sa atong nataran. Usa siya ka magsusulat nga gradwado sa kursong komersiyo padulong sa pagka accountant sa University of San Carlos kaniadtong tuig 1961.  Nahimo siyang miyembro sa usa ka hugpong sa mga batan-ong magsusulat nga gitawag ug STUDENT PRESS.  Nahimo usab siyang   Associate Editor sa basahon  USC-JPIAN sa tuig 1962-63. Magtatampo usab siya isip magsusulat sa nasudnong magasin,  "Philippines Free Press" ug sa mga nag-unang peryodiko dinhi sa dakbayan sa Sugbo sa lunhaw pa ang iyang pangedaron. Nahimo siyang mamumuo sa usa ka pribadong kompaniya sa dakbayan sa Sugbo, ESCANO LINES, sulod sa napulo ug duha (12) ka tuig  dayon niyang tapon  ngadto sa NAPOCOR  ug nahimong kawani sa kagamhanan  sulod sa bayente dos (22) ka tuig. Niadtong tunga-tungang bahin sa tuig 2000, nilalin siya ngadto sa tinipong nasod sa Amerika ug sulod sa napulo (10) ka tuig, nagtrabaho siya sa  buhatan sa kagamhanan sa nasod sama  sa  UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE (USPS).  Karon sa pangedaron nga 68,  gihuptan gihapon niya ang walay pagkutat nga kadasig ug walay busganan nga kaikag sa pagpaambit sa iyang nahuptang abilidad  ug kabatid sa panulat.  Dili niya mapugngan ang kaugalingon sa pagpaambit sa iyang mga hunahuna labi na kon molambigit kini ug hisgotanan nga makadani sa iyang mga mata.)