MANILA, Philippines - The head of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) on Sunday accused personnel from the Sugar Regulatory Commission and the Bureau of Customs of meddling in legitimate anti-smuggling operations by attempting to get custody of a suspected illegal cargo last week.
PASG head Antonio Villar Jr urged SRA Administrator Rafael L. Coscolluela and Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales to slap disciplinary actions against their respective men involved in the incident.
"Disciplinary action against the said personnel of SRA and BOC who interfered in a legitimate PASG operation is necessary to prevent others from following their bad example," Villar said.
He identified the said personnel as Regulation Officer II Ernesto M. Ortalez Jr and Secretary II William G. Yanen of SRA, and Customs guards Manuel C. Dizon and Gabino Y. Gonzalez III as the individuals who tried to stop the PASG from seizing a container van suspected to contain smuggled goods at Gate 6 in Port Area in Manila last July 30.
Oratlez, reportedly wearing a PASG tag and who introduced himself as a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent, was with Yanen when they questioned the authority of PASG personnel impounding the container van.
Dizon and Gonzalez later arrived with an alleged BOC mission order to take possession of the shipment, consigned to Kaye International Trading Corporation with address at FUBC Building, Escolta corner Burke Sts., Sta. Cruz, Manila, and transfer it to Malabon.
PASG official Supt. Johnny B. Bacbac later arrived, forcing the SRA men and Customs guards to yield the container van pending verification of its import documents.
The said container van seized on July 30 while headed for a Customs Bonded Warehouse without any accompanying Customs guards "which was a grave violation of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP), Villar said. - GMANews.TV