Malacañang takes up cudgels for PASG

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang defended yesterday the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group against allegations by a Korean businessman that some PASG agents tried to extort money from him.

The PASG said Wan Sup Park, a member of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (KCCP) and owner of PKSS Enterprises, already apologized and denied he accused the agency of corruption.

The KCCP wrote Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on Nov. 10, complaining that a PASG raiding team led by Senior Inspector Carl Joseph Jaucian tried to shut down PKSS Enterprises in Pasig City last Nov. 4 even when the firm’s papers were reportedly in order.

The PASG team allegedly agreed to partial operations as long as the firm would “come across,” the KCCP said.

Ermita said he has yet to read the letter, but added that it was expected that PASG would be subjected to allegations.

“Of course, many would be intimidated by the PASG because of their successful raids, but I hope there would be no reasons for agents of PASG to be accused of abuse,” he said.

PASG chief Antonio Villar said the Korean traders’ complaint was never reported to his office but was already resolved before he met with Korean Ambassador Joong-Kyung Choi and Korean Economic Councilor Myongjoon in Manila recently.

Meanwhile, Villar welcomed a 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by a Manila regional trial court that will halt the operation of the agency.

Villar said the TRO issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 26 Judge Silvino Pampilo was based on a petition of British national Alpha Kwok, whose condominium unit in Pasig City yielded over P250 million worth of alleged smuggled jewelry and diamonds during a raid of the agency in August.  

Pampilo ordered Kwok to post a P2-million bond “to ensure that the court will not be liable for any damages that PASG might suffer in case the court later finds out that petitioner is not entitled to the TRO.”

He set the hearing on the petition for declaratory relief filed by Kwok and her lawyer, Bonifacio Alentajan, on Dec. 3. The petitioners said Executive Order 624, which created the PASG in 2007, was unconstitutional and illegal.

“This was expected, considering we are up against some powerful personalities, but we also expect to prevail in the end. The operation pertaining to this case was legitimate and lawful,” Villar said in a statement issued to reporters.

Villar said those accusing PASG of extortion have either been apprehended for smuggling or questioned for acting as “protectors” for smugglers. – Paolo Romero, Nestor Etolle, Sandy Araneta