Shell to file countersuits in Philippine oil smuggling case

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. adopted a combative position in response to allegations from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) that it had intentionally misrepresented gasoline imports to avoid taxes. In a statement issued on the website of Pilipinas Shell, the oil major said it would file cases charging gross negligence, gross incompetence, and defamation against those who had misled this government. According to the BOC, Shell’s local unit had intentionally misclassified and mis-declared petroleum imports between August 2005 and May 2009 to evade tax payments. BOC slapped a Php24.5 billion (US$568.58 million) charge on Shell and said the mis-declarations amounted to technical smuggling. (October 22, 2010)