PASG scores legal battle vs foreign businessman

MANILA, Philippines - The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) reported yesterday that the agency won round one in its legal battle against British suspect Sui Ting Alpha Kwok who earlier filed graft and illegal detention charges against PASG chief Undersecretary Antonio Villar and other officials in connection with her recent arrest for alleged smuggling of P500-million worth of jewelry and watches.

Villar, in a statement, said the Bureau of Customs had just issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) against the “undetermined quantity of assorted signature watches, diamonds, jewelry with precious and semi-precious stones” found in the condominium unit occupied by Kwok in Pasig City.

The smuggling case filed by PASG against Kwok has been further strengthened by the seizure and detention order.

The jewelry seized from Kwok is now in the safekeeping of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

“The WSD ordered by the Bureau of Customs exonerates the PASG and my men from any unlawful act in the raid and subsequent seizure of about half a billion pesos worth of diamonds and other jewelry in the condo unit occupied by Kwok,” Villar said.

“There is no trespassing since we had a search warrant, and there is no illegal arrest and detention since it was the Bureau of Immigration that ordered her arrest and detention at the Bicutan immigration jail,” he said.

In a 14-page complaint filed at the office of the Office of the Ombudsman, Kwok said the PASG officials “feloniously trespassed and searched” her condominium unit at Pacific Place in Ortigas Center, Pasig City and then illegally arrested and detained her.

Villar clarified that joint operatives of the PASG and Bureau of Immigration arrested the woman inside her condominium unit in Pasig where a large quantity of diamonds and other expensive jewelry were seized.

Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan directed the BI law and investigation division to immediately start deportation proceedings against Kwok for immigration law violations.

Libanan said Kwok would be charged for engaging in gainful activity in the country without the proper permit and visa.

BI Associate Commissioner Roy Almoro, however, said Kwok would not be deported pending the suspect’s prosecution and possible conviction for smuggling before a Philippine court.