PASG mandate, acts questioned at House
Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) chief Antonio Villar was asked on Monday to justify the creation of his agency or face abolition in the wake of accusations that the body’s main tasks and responsibilities overlap that of the Bureau of Customs.
Rep. Milagros Magsaysay of Zambales said the group’s operations have started to create confusion since some of its functions are performed by the Customs bureau.
“The PASG’s existence has sown confusion because its functions are apparently the same and are now being carried out by the Customs bureau,” Magsaysay said.
A case of overlapping of functions cited by Magsaysay was that of the raid conducted by the PASG in Makati City which Villar insisted was authorized because it was covered by a warrant and detention order from Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales.
However, at the hearing con-ducted by the House Committee on Good Government, where Magsaysay is a member, Morales denied his office issued the said warrant.
“While the PASG may have indeed hauled off 81 suspected hot cars, it remains our concern that such raid should be covered by a legal warrant. Otherwise, there is a chance of abuse,” Magsaysay pointed out.
Allegedly ‘protecting’ smugglers
Several lawmakers have also called for the abolition of PASG, citing reports that some of its officials are protectors of big-time smugglers.
As shown by documents, Rep. Teddy Casiño of the left-leaning Bayan Muna said there is reason to believe that “the big-time car smuggling mafia in Cebu involves top-level officials in Metro Manila.”
In the same hearing, Casino showed Land Transportation Office (LTO) documents indicating that it was its main office in Quezon City that issued 40 vehicle license plates for late- model luxury cars and sport utility vehicles. The documents indicated that the vehicles were registered form August 2006 to July 2007.
The militant lawmaker questioned as to how the said vehicles in Central Visayas were issued license plates starting with Z or Y, which are for Metro Manila-registered vehicles.
“These documents are actually the tip of the iceberg of big-time smuggling operations. This only means that LTO and DOTC [Department of Transportation and Communications] high officials in Central Visayas and Manila colluded in causing the issuance and release of NCR [National Capital Region]-assigned plates to the smuggled cars,” the militant lawmaker added.
In an earlier story published in The Manila Times, Villar chided moves at the House to abolish the group.
“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.
The antismuggling group was created by virtue of Executive Order 624 issued by President Gloria Arroyo to help the government’s campaign against smuggling. Executive Order 687 also placed Task Force Subic under the control of the antismuggling body. By Maricel V. Cruz, Manila Times Reporter
Rep. Milagros Magsaysay of Zambales said the group’s operations have started to create confusion since some of its functions are performed by the Customs bureau.
“The PASG’s existence has sown confusion because its functions are apparently the same and are now being carried out by the Customs bureau,” Magsaysay said.
A case of overlapping of functions cited by Magsaysay was that of the raid conducted by the PASG in Makati City which Villar insisted was authorized because it was covered by a warrant and detention order from Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales.
However, at the hearing con-ducted by the House Committee on Good Government, where Magsaysay is a member, Morales denied his office issued the said warrant.
“While the PASG may have indeed hauled off 81 suspected hot cars, it remains our concern that such raid should be covered by a legal warrant. Otherwise, there is a chance of abuse,” Magsaysay pointed out.
Allegedly ‘protecting’ smugglers
Several lawmakers have also called for the abolition of PASG, citing reports that some of its officials are protectors of big-time smugglers.
As shown by documents, Rep. Teddy Casiño of the left-leaning Bayan Muna said there is reason to believe that “the big-time car smuggling mafia in Cebu involves top-level officials in Metro Manila.”
In the same hearing, Casino showed Land Transportation Office (LTO) documents indicating that it was its main office in Quezon City that issued 40 vehicle license plates for late- model luxury cars and sport utility vehicles. The documents indicated that the vehicles were registered form August 2006 to July 2007.
The militant lawmaker questioned as to how the said vehicles in Central Visayas were issued license plates starting with Z or Y, which are for Metro Manila-registered vehicles.
“These documents are actually the tip of the iceberg of big-time smuggling operations. This only means that LTO and DOTC [Department of Transportation and Communications] high officials in Central Visayas and Manila colluded in causing the issuance and release of NCR [National Capital Region]-assigned plates to the smuggled cars,” the militant lawmaker added.
In an earlier story published in The Manila Times, Villar chided moves at the House to abolish the group.
“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.
The antismuggling group was created by virtue of Executive Order 624 issued by President Gloria Arroyo to help the government’s campaign against smuggling. Executive Order 687 also placed Task Force Subic under the control of the antismuggling body. By Maricel V. Cruz, Manila Times Reporter
Reader's comment on post
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..
Labels: customs, Mitos Magsaysay, pasg, villar, zambales
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