79 Pinoys in Ireland angry over undelivered packages

IRELAND – More than 70 Filipinos are preparing to take their complaints to court after a forwarding company owned by fellow Filipinos failed to deliver their balikbayan boxes on time.

“Masamang-masama ang loob ko syempre kasi yung perang pinambili namin doon pinaghirapan namin at isa pa rin inaasahan ito ng buong pamilya ko,” said one of the victims, Rose Elegado.

Elegado and 78 other Filipinos claimed that it has been more than a year since they sent their balikbayan boxes to the Philippines. However, packages remain undelivered.

They blame the Maharlika Enterprise, an Irish-registered company managed by Joseph John Codamon and partner Armeda Casabar.

“Sana itong Maharlika noon pa sana ginawan mo na ng paraan ito hindi na sana tayo umabot sa ganito na marami nang masyadong apektado,” said another victim Roel Timbang.

The victims learned that the boxes remain inside the warehouse of Maharlika’s business partner in Manila. Their partner allegedly does not want to release the balikbayan boxes until Maharlika settles P480,000 in penalties.

The victims brought their complaints to the Philippine Embassy in Dublin where they were advised to bring their case to the Consumer Protection Agency in Ireland.

In its advisory, the Embassy said it does not tolerate bad business management practices. It likewise reminds Filipinos in Ireland to “engage only the services of sea-freight forwarders that are accredited by the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry-Philippine Shippers’ Bureau”.

“Maharlika Enterprise has been reported to Philippine authorities for appropriate action,” the embassy’s advisory added.

Meanwhile, Codamon agreed to sell his car to pay off the debt but this was not enough. The victims had to shell out additional 100 euros each for the release of all the balikbayan boxes. Roderick Garcia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

source: abs-cbnnews.com