MANILA, Philippines — Former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Zamboanga District Collector Atty. Lyceo C. Martinez has been fully cleared of criminal and administrative liability related to the disappearance of over 23,000 sacks of smuggled rice in 2018. This comes after rulings from the Office of the Ombudsman, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court—all in his favor.
The case stemmed from allegations that Martinez failed to issue a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) in a timely manner after authorities intercepted 23,015 sacks of smuggled rice in September 2018. The Field Investigation Office of the Ombudsman claimed that this delay contributed to the disappearance of the rice shipment.
However, in an eight-page resolution dated May 20, 2022, the Ombudsman dismissed the criminal case against Martinez, citing no probable cause and no substantial evidence to suggest misconduct or gross negligence. The Ombudsman ruled that Martinez’s actions adhered to established BOC protocols and emphasized that safeguarding seized items was a shared responsibility among the Philippine Coast Guard, PDEA, ISAFP, and other law enforcement agencies involved.
The Court of Appeals later ruled on administrative charges against Martinez under CA-G.R. SP No. 165033. In its decision, the appellate court declared the dismissal of Martinez invalid, ordering his reinstatement as BOC Zamboanga District Collector with no loss of seniority and payment of full back salaries.
The legal clarity reached its finality when the Supreme Court, in a resolution dated January 31, 2024, denied the Bureau of Customs motion for reconsideration of the denial of its appeal in an earlier resolution dated December 7, 2022. The Second Division of the Court found no compelling reason to overturn the lower court’s decision, affirming that no new substantial argument had been presented to warrant a reversal.
With these decisions, Atty. Martinez is now officially cleared of all criminal and administrative accountability and is set to resume his duties at the Bureau of Customs.
The series of rulings collectively affirms that the 2018 incident was not the result of individual wrongdoing, but a complex operational issue requiring inter-agency coordination and accountability.
