PASG chief gets death threats

The country’s anti-smuggling chief vowed yesterday to hit harder against smuggling syndicates after receiving several death threats in the last several weeks.

Just four months since President Arroyo appointed him as head of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG), Undersecretary Antonio Villar said he has been receiving death threats through his mobile phone “after busting several attempts to smuggle hundreds of millions of pesos worth of goods into the country.”

“I will never be intimidated by these threats, nor will it affect my commitment to eliminate smuggling in the country,” he said. “In fact, these threats have strengthened my resolve to send smugglers to jail because I know that PASG is hurting them, and we are hurting them bad.”

Villar confirmed the threats on his life when he received verified intelligence reports from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that smuggling syndicates that were affected by PASG’s anti-smuggling drive  are out to eliminate him.

He said even his wife, Sto. Tomas, Pangasinan Mayor  Vivien Villar, and PASG staff members are not spared from threatening calls.

Since its formation four months ago, the PASG has seized or stopped the smuggling of more than half a billion pesos worth of goods ranging from used clothing, luxury cars to plastic resin despite a lean staff and low budget, officials said.

The figure does not include the busting of two oil firms in Subic that were caught smuggling P20 billion worth of fuel over the last few years, according to officials.

The PASG has also filed charges against some Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials for allegedly conspiring with smuggling syndicates or engaging in smuggling themselves. This has put Villar at odds with Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales.

Last week, the PASG filed complaints against eight BOC officials and six members of a “ghost corporation” before the Department of Justice for their alleged involvement in smuggling more than P500 million worth of plastic resin into the country.

He said the BoC officials covered up the smuggling activities by officials of the ghost corporation.

Villar said the only way he can be stopped from running against smugglers is for the them to stop their illegal activities.

“Do not hide behind the skirts of your wives. I am ready to face you anytime, any­where,” he said. – Paolo Romero