3 Bacolod businessmen deny links to smuggling

The names of three businessmen were tagged as smugglers on a note attached to two severed human feet left at a gasoline station in Bacolod City.

The three traders, however, denied having links to smuggling.

Written on the note that was left at a gasoline station along CL Montelibano Avenue on Thursday, March 30, was “Smuggler Agnus Botones, Atty. Rafael Ocampo, Mark Efren, protector Natnat.”

Ocampo, Botones and Efren, who are motorcycle riding friends, issued separate statements denying the accusation.

“I am a practicing lawyer and I do not need to resort to smuggling to earn a living. Rest assured that the authorities can expect full cooperation from my end. Since there are no clear allegations, I could only surmise that it is about fuel smuggling,” Ocampo said.

Ocampo admitted that he was the operator of two fuel stations in Bacolod City but it ended on Aug. 31, 2022.

“On September 2022, I returned the stations to the dealer. During the entire time that I was operating the stations, I only sourced fuel from the brand’s depot,” he said, adding that “the people behind the message were of a mistaken belief that he still owns the stations.”

“I am not involved in the fuel supply and/or operation of the CL Montelibano gas station. I cannot commit smuggling simply because I am not a fuel importer,” Botones said.

Efren of Root Petroleum Inc. said the firm does not sell fuel to consumers.

“I wish to inform the public that Root Petroleum is an accredited hauler and is only paid for hauling/ service fees. Root Petroleum does not sell fuel to any fuel station as it is purely engaged in hauling services,” Efren said in a Facebook post.

Cpt. Greeky Cayao, Police Station 4 chief, said the severed feet and message “was apparently meant to scare them.”

Investigators have yet to establish who the severed feet belonged to and the police received no reports of people — dead or alive — missing their feet, Cayao said.

Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, city police director, said the businessmen told him that they have an idea who are behind the “elaborate prank.”