Olongapo City, Jan. 8, 1998 - The Olongapo Regional Trial Court recently stopped the implementation of Executive Order 444 which curtails the operations of duty free shops in Clark and Subic.
The court gave cognizance to Republic Act 7227 which guaranteed the free flow and movement of goods within the freeport area.
The temporary restraining order was issued by Judge Leopoldo Calderon Jr. who directed the office of the Executive Secretary and the local Bureau of Customs to desist from implementing EO 444. The TRO was issued after a complaint by Shamburg Imports, Inc., a Subic Freeport company which claimed that duty free shops suffered irreparable injuries due to several provisions of EO 444 which hampered operations.
Duty free shops in Subic and Clark suffered 40% to 70% drops in revenue when EO 444 scrapped the $200 shopping privilege for all local visitors.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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