PASG pumalag sa demolition job

Pinabulaanan ng Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) ang napa­ulat na umano’y panggi­gipit at pana­nakot ng ka­nilang tauhan sa mga Chinese importers.

Sinabi ni PASG Intelligence director Guillermo Jaeh Francia, ang ulat na ito ay bahagi lamang ng “demolition job” sa PASG dahil sa kampanya nila laban sa mga smugglers.

Wika pa ni Director Francia, walang katoto­hanan ang akusasyon ni Customs Deputy Commissioner Celso Templo na pinuno din ng Customs Intelligence and Enforcement Group na nanggigipit at nananakot ang PASG operatives sa mga importers.

“It was a sweeping accusation devoid of factual evidence. The PASG mandate includes the right to spot check all warehouses suspected as fronts for smuggling. CIEG maybe the only group in the BOC which has the right to conduct an audit of importations. But in the same breath PASG has the right to spot check. Spot checking is different from auditing. All PASG operations are covered by Mission Orders,” wika ni Fran­cia.

Sinabi naman ni PASG chief Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr. na buo ang kanyang tiwala kay Francia at mga tauhan nito kasa­bay ang pagsasabing hindi niya kukunsintihin ang maling gawain ng sinu­mang PASG operatives. (Rudy Andal)