Magsaysay wants PASG abolished

Villar hits back at lawmakers

Undersecretary Antonio Villar, head of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group, accused two lawmakers of using Congress to get back at him and his agency.

Villar made the accusation after Reps. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay of Zambales and Al Francis Bichara of Albay called for the abolition of the PASG.

Magsaysay filed a resolution pushing for the abolition of PASG; Bichara in turn endorsed her resolution during a hearing of the House committee on good government on the issue of smuggling in the country.

Villar branded their moves as part of a “cheap demolition mission” to get him and PASG out of the way.

“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 in a statement.

Since PASG took over the functions of task force Subic following the death of Gen. Jose Calimlim, Villar said he received information that Magsaysay was worried that their “business” in Subic might be “disturbed.” Villar did not elaborate.

Villar said the Albay lawmaker is likewise bothered since the PASG has refused to release some of the congressman’s luxury cars, which were among the 81 vehicles seized by PASG in a raid late last year on an auto shop in Makati.

Villar said the luxury cars were not released because Bichara failed to present documents to prove the vehicles were acquired in accordance with the law.

PASG said that Bichara owned four of the 81 vehicles found in Auto Sport 24 in Makati City last Dec. 14. These include two Grand Cherokee, a Volvo and a Jaguar.

Villar said that the Grand Cherokee Jeep (ZEP 947) was registered with the LTO under the name of Bichara on Dec. 17 or three days after the Dec. 14 raid.

Based on the certificate of registration with the LTO, the car was supposedly a 2006 model but the certificate of payment indicated the vehicle was registered as 1995 model.

Villar said PASG is still investigating the matter because the payment made was only P15,616, much lower than if the car was a 2006 model.

In the case of the Jaguar SI model 2001, Villar said PASG released the vehicle on condition that Bichara will present documents to prove that it was exempted from taxes. Bichara claimed he enjoys the privileged of bringing in the vehicle tax free since he used to be ambassador to Lebanon.

But Villar said Bichara failed to present import entry documents and the certificate of tax exemption until now.

Villar said 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 PASG a delivery receipt from Viking Cars Inc. But Villar said the delivery receipt does not bear the signature of Bichara.

As for the other Grand Cherokee Jeep model 1998 (GNL 107), Villar said PASG investigators noticed several alterations in the certificate of registration, which is under the name of a certain Christopher Baynes.

He said Bichara presented a deed of sale, without the signature of a witness, showing a certain Gerardo Romaldez sold the vehicle to Baynes. But a copy of the deed showed Bichara’s signature as a witness. Villar said Bichara has not submitted any deed of sale to prove he is the current owner of the vehicle.

PASG was created by virtue of Executive Order 624 issued by President Arroyo as part of 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 PASG.
By Roy Pelovello - Manila Standard Today