PASG belittles strike threat

MANILA, Philippines - Presidential Anti Smuggling Group (PASG) chief Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr. dismissed yesterday a threat by some Customs brokers and other port users to stage a nationwide strike to press for the abolition of the agency.

“They cannot crack our bones by mere tongue-lashing accusations. PASG is operating in accordance with law. I challenge them to prove in court the validity of their accusations,” Villar said.

The port users earlier questioned the PASG’s practice of impounding containers found to be loaded with purportedly smuggled or undervalued goods.

He issued the statement after the Palace came to his defense, saying President Arroyo was not likely to yield to such pressures because the PASG was being backed by various business groups, including foreign business chambers, and international anti-graft and corruption expert Tony Kwok.

He said he is “determined to lock horns with his detractors.”

Villar said the impounding of container vans loaded with reported undervalued cargoes are provided for in Executive Order 624, which was issued by Mrs. Arroyo in May 2007.

“Their line of questioning the operations of PASG is tantamount to questioning the order of the President,” he said.

For last week alone, Villar said the PASG added P2 million to the government coffers by detaining questionable shipments at the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port, then releasing them once the consignees pay proper duties and taxes to the Bureau of Customs.

Villar belied claims by the Professional Customs Brokers Association of the Philippines, Inc. that PASG does not observe the Customs Code and other revenue laws, saying the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) is the PASG’s basis for detaining the shipments.   – Paolo Romero