Albay, Zambales lawmakers want to abolish PASG
Antismuggling czar Villar vows to give the two a good fight
ADMINISTRATION congressmen wanted the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) abolished,but the PASG head, Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr., vowed Thursday to give them a good fight.
“Well, I have bad news for them. I will never back out in telling the public why they want me out of the scene,” Villar said.
The PASG chief was referring to Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay and Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara, both members of the administration party Lakas-CMD and were among the 174 congressmen who voted for the ouster of Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. from his post as House Speaker.
Ironically, Villar is also from Pangasinan like de Venecia. He was a three-term mayor of the municipality of Sto. Tomas before his appointment to the PASG.
Villar made the statement following reports that Magsaysay and Bichara were moving heaven and earth for the abolition of the PASG.
Magsaysay filed a resolution for the PASG’s abolition that was taken up during a recent hearing by the House Committee on Good Government. Bichara has reportedly supported Magsaysay’s proposal.
“It was a cheap ‘Batman and Robin’ demolition mission,” Villar said, adding that Magsaysay and Bichara went out of bounds in their attempt to discredit him, “apparently hoping that at the end of the day the main obstacle to their personal interest would be gone.”
Villar hinted that since the PASG took over to head the Task Force Subic following the death of Gen. Jose Calimlim, Magsaysay was allegedly worried that their “business” in Subic might be “disturbed.”
As for Bichara, Villar said the Albay lawmaker is likewise bothered since some of his luxury cars, which were among the 81 vehicles seized by PASG in a recent raid late last year of Auto Sport 24 in Makati, were not yet released due to his failure to present proper documents.
The PASG was created by virtue of Executive Order 624 issued by President Gloria Arroyo to help the government’s campaign against smuggling. Task Force Subic was created by virtue of EO 384, and through EO 687, the Task Force Subic was placed under the control of the PASG.
“I cannot understand why these congressmen are very eager to abolish PASG when in fact we have a lot of accomplishments and have contributed to the government’s campaign to curb smuggling,” Villar said adding the two lawmakers should have instead helped the PASG and the government in the campaign against smuggling instead of grandstanding at the Lower House.
Verification made by the PASG showed that Bichara owned four of the 81 vehicles seized during a raid at Auto Sport 24 in Makati City on December 14, 2007. These include two Grand Cherokees, a Volvo and a Jaguar.
Villar explained that it is indeed questionable how the Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZEP-947) was registered with the LTO under the name of Bichara only on December 17, 2007, or three days after the December 14 raid. Based on the certificate of registration with the LTO, it showed the car was a 2006 model but on the certificate of payment, the vehicle was registered as a 1995 model. Villar said PASG is still investigating the matter because the payment made was only P15,616, much lower than if the car were a 2006 model.
On the case of the Jaguar SI model 2001, Villar said PASG released the said vehicle on condition that Bichara will present documents to prove that it was exempted from taxes. Bichara claimed he is entitled to bring in the said vehicle in the country since he is a former ambassador to Lebanon.
Villar clarified that Bichara has failed to present import entry documents and the certificate of tax exemption until now.
On the other hand, Villar said the PASG is likewise conducting investigation on the Volvo S80 model 2000 (WPB-288) on claims of Bichara that it was locally purchased. He said Bichara presented to the PASG a delivery receipt from Viking Cars Inc. However, the PASG head added that said delivery receipt does not bear the signature of Bichara to prove that he received the unit in good order and condition.
As for the other Jeep Grand Cherokee model 1998 (GNL-107), Villar said PASG investigators noticed several alterations in the certificate of registration that is under the name of a certain Christopher Baynes. He said Bichara presented a deed of sale showing a certain Gerardo Romaldez sold the vehicle to Baynes without a signature of a witness. However, a second copy of the same deed of sale showed Bichara bearing his signature as a witness.
Likewise, Villar added that Bichara failed to present a deed of sale to prove his ownership of said vehicle.
By William B. Depasupil, Manila Times Reporter
ADMINISTRATION congressmen wanted the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) abolished,but the PASG head, Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr., vowed Thursday to give them a good fight.
“Well, I have bad news for them. I will never back out in telling the public why they want me out of the scene,” Villar said.
The PASG chief was referring to Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay and Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara, both members of the administration party Lakas-CMD and were among the 174 congressmen who voted for the ouster of Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. from his post as House Speaker.
Ironically, Villar is also from Pangasinan like de Venecia. He was a three-term mayor of the municipality of Sto. Tomas before his appointment to the PASG.
Villar made the statement following reports that Magsaysay and Bichara were moving heaven and earth for the abolition of the PASG.
Magsaysay filed a resolution for the PASG’s abolition that was taken up during a recent hearing by the House Committee on Good Government. Bichara has reportedly supported Magsaysay’s proposal.
“It was a cheap ‘Batman and Robin’ demolition mission,” Villar said, adding that Magsaysay and Bichara went out of bounds in their attempt to discredit him, “apparently hoping that at the end of the day the main obstacle to their personal interest would be gone.”
Villar hinted that since the PASG took over to head the Task Force Subic following the death of Gen. Jose Calimlim, Magsaysay was allegedly worried that their “business” in Subic might be “disturbed.”
As for Bichara, Villar said the Albay lawmaker is likewise bothered since some of his luxury cars, which were among the 81 vehicles seized by PASG in a recent raid late last year of Auto Sport 24 in Makati, were not yet released due to his failure to present proper documents.
The PASG was created by virtue of Executive Order 624 issued by President Gloria Arroyo to help the government’s campaign against smuggling. Task Force Subic was created by virtue of EO 384, and through EO 687, the Task Force Subic was placed under the control of the PASG.
“I cannot understand why these congressmen are very eager to abolish PASG when in fact we have a lot of accomplishments and have contributed to the government’s campaign to curb smuggling,” Villar said adding the two lawmakers should have instead helped the PASG and the government in the campaign against smuggling instead of grandstanding at the Lower House.
Verification made by the PASG showed that Bichara owned four of the 81 vehicles seized during a raid at Auto Sport 24 in Makati City on December 14, 2007. These include two Grand Cherokees, a Volvo and a Jaguar.
Villar explained that it is indeed questionable how the Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZEP-947) was registered with the LTO under the name of Bichara only on December 17, 2007, or three days after the December 14 raid. Based on the certificate of registration with the LTO, it showed the car was a 2006 model but on the certificate of payment, the vehicle was registered as a 1995 model. Villar said PASG is still investigating the matter because the payment made was only P15,616, much lower than if the car were a 2006 model.
On the case of the Jaguar SI model 2001, Villar said PASG released the said vehicle on condition that Bichara will present documents to prove that it was exempted from taxes. Bichara claimed he is entitled to bring in the said vehicle in the country since he is a former ambassador to Lebanon.
Villar clarified that Bichara has failed to present import entry documents and the certificate of tax exemption until now.
On the other hand, Villar said the PASG is likewise conducting investigation on the Volvo S80 model 2000 (WPB-288) on claims of Bichara that it was locally purchased. He said Bichara presented to the PASG a delivery receipt from Viking Cars Inc. However, the PASG head added that said delivery receipt does not bear the signature of Bichara to prove that he received the unit in good order and condition.
As for the other Jeep Grand Cherokee model 1998 (GNL-107), Villar said PASG investigators noticed several alterations in the certificate of registration that is under the name of a certain Christopher Baynes. He said Bichara presented a deed of sale showing a certain Gerardo Romaldez sold the vehicle to Baynes without a signature of a witness. However, a second copy of the same deed of sale showed Bichara bearing his signature as a witness.
Likewise, Villar added that Bichara failed to present a deed of sale to prove his ownership of said vehicle.
By William B. Depasupil, Manila Times Reporter
Labels: Mitos Magsaysay, pasg, smuggling, subic, villar
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
11:04 AM
1 Comments:
i really admire the effort being made by USEC Villar to clean the smuggling menace of Subic.. i salute you sir for being brave to fight against the big time politically backed smugglers in Subic.. we the people of Zambales know that smuggling in Subic was connected with the powerful politicians here in Zambales backed by the present administration.
Ang lantarang pagtutol sa PASG ng mga Kongresistang ito ay nagpapatunay lang ng kanilang koneksyon sa malawakang smuggling sa Subic.. medyo tinatamaan sila ng mga operasyon niyo.. ingat po kayo dahil sa aking pagkakaalam ay malakas yan sa administrasyon.. kung hindi ba malakas.. eh pati anak na 23 years old ay na-upo na sa SBMA bilang director...Sana ay hindi nila matibag ang katulad niyo na talagang gumagawa ng kanyang trabaho... More Power USEC Villar..
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Anonymous, at 2/18/2008 3:05 PM
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