Calimlim: Damage suit part of drive to discredit me, Task ForceAduana

Lt. Gen. Jose Calimlim, Armed Forces' intelligence chief and head of the anti-smuggling Task Force Aduana, said yesterday there was nothing irregular in the treasure hunt in Norzagaray, Bulacan, claiming that the charges filed against him were part of a campaign to derail his drive against smugglers.

Calimlim was referring to the P380,000 damage suit filed the other day by lawyer Homobono Adaza, who represents complainants Dante Legaspi, owner of the property where the diggings are being conducted, and lawyer Paul Gutierrez.

"We have been anticipating this case. There is actually no basis for the case. It is also the job of the PSG (Presidential Security Group) commander to process all treasure hunting activities and recovery of sunken vessels," Calimlim said in a press conference.

"There are many other (treasure hunting) projects approved by the government, including salvaging of sunken vessels," he said.

Calimlim alleged that last Feb. 20, Adaza had a breakfast meeting with 11 people, among them alleged smugglers, prominent politicians and mediamen, at the EDSA Plaza Hotel in Mandaluyong City, to find ways to discredit him and Task Force Aduana for their sustained operations against smuggling.

Among those reportedly present in the meeting, he said, were a prominent columnist and Indian nationals, whom Adaza also represents in a smuggling case filed by the task force.

Calimlim, however, said there is nothing that could directly link the mediamen to the alleged plot because they virtually kept silent throughout the meeting.

He said one of those present in the meeting suggested that a complaint be filed against him (Calimlim) for the treasure hunt the PSG had approved.

Calimlim said investigation showed that Legaspi had no knowledge of the case and was thrice pressured by Adaza's group to link him to irregularities.

When Legaspi refused, Calimlim said they duped him into signing a special power of attorney which allowed Gutierrez to act on his behalf.

According to Calimlim, investigation also uncovered evidence that the treasure hunt site is not owned by Legaspi and may actually be public property.

He also denied that 80 heavily armed members of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), the PSG and Task Force Aduana have cordoned off the property and barred its owners from entering.

Calimlim said the group, which had applied for a permit for the treasure hunt, had requested for security, for which he provided only two enlisted men from the PSG and the ISAFP who are regularly monitored by a military officer.

"We cannot deploy 80 men especially with a lot of projects and operations we are undertaking against smugglers, plus other military activities," he said.