PASG to seize P100-million goods from hardware chain

MANILA, Philippines - The Customs collector of the Port of Manila has ordered the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) to raid two warehouses and confiscate P100 million worth of goods allegedly smuggled by the owner of a hardware store chain.

The goods were reportedly imported by Johnny Co Ban Kiat, a director of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, who also owns the warehouses. One of the warehouses is along Quirino Avenue in Parañaque City, while the other is on Quintin Paredes street in Manila. PASG said its agents had been monitoring the warehouses for several weeks.

Reports said the Customs collector issued a warrant, seizure and detention order Wednesday after Co did not permit PASG to inspect the goods, which the Customs collector suspected to be “undervalued” and “misdeclared.”

Co’s security guards allegedly did not allow PASG agents to enter the warehouses despite a “mission order” issued by PASG head Antonio Villar.

The staff of Co Ban Kiat Hardware, Inc. in Binondo, Manila told The STAR they were aware of the order but Co was not available for comment since he was busy attending to the problem. – Nestor Etolle