Manila Bulletin
In a statement sent by the companys law firm CVC Law, the company warned on the adverse impact of the threatened seizure of P43 billion worth of its raw materials and product imports by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) the worst case scenario of which, would be the oil firms refinery closure.
The potential closure of Shell Batangas refinery as a result of the seizure by BoC of imported raw materials processed in the refinery means that 823 workers in the refinery alone stand to lose their jobs while the company expects to lose P11 billion a month, the company said.
In the same vein that allied industries depending on the refinery for business as well as the local economy in Batangas will be severely affected by the closure.
The products seizure is purportedly BoCs way of compelling the oil firm to answer for a disputed deficiency tax assessments covering its importation from 2004-2009.
The tax deficiency reportedly arose due to differing tariff classification set for catalytic cracked gasoline (CCG) and Light Catalytic Cracked Gasoline (LCCG) as compared to imported finished products.
Pilipinas Shell contends that the BoC assessment has no basis since excise taxes are supposed to be levied only on finished products for consumption and sale in the domestic market.
The oil firm was able to secure a 60-day temporary restraining order versus the products seizure attempts. It is due to expire this February 9.
The Court of Tax Appeals is currently conducting hearings on Shells prayer for a suspension order.
A refinery business is considered a strategic component of the oil industry, and if government-sanctioned moves to close Shells refinery would prevail, the country will be left with only one refinery.
When that happens, the countrys bid for energy security will be forever threatened. The arbitrary rule-changing being enforced by government, or the BoC at that, will also serve as a disincentive for any investor to even think of pursuing any further investments in refining business in the country.
Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes fears there will be supply disruptions if the Bureau of Customs seizes P43 billion worth of importations of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation.
The BoC vowed to seize, all future shipments of Shell amounting to $923 million arriving for February 2010 to May 2010 alone, to answer for alleged deficiency tax assessments covering its importations from 2004-2009 of Catalytic Cracked Gasoline (CCG) and Light Catalytic Cracked Gasoline (LCCG).
Shell is disputing the tax assessments before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) where it contends that its CCG and LCCG imports are merely raw materials for the production of unleaded gasoline.
It contends that the BOC assessment has no basis since excise taxes are supposed to be levied only on finished products for consumption and sale in the domestic market.
Shell cant operate as usual, BOC may have to go the process of bidding for the sale of the cargoes. But the buyer may not have the capacity to store the cargo, noted Reyes in a message to reporters.
He explained that Shell has a share of over 30 percent of the marketsecond only to Petron.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
