PASG probes smuggling of Korean used cars

MANILA, Philippines - The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) is widening its investigation into the reported smuggling of Korean-made used vehicles through the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

PASG chief Secretary Antonio Villar Jr. said this could indicate that a big-time criminal syndicate has infiltrated the MICP despite Executive Order 156, which bans the importation of used vehicles. The EO took effect last year. “It is quite unusual for the MICP to be used as the launching pad for such an illegal activity,” he said, adding that previous smuggling incidents were confined in big ports outside Metro Manila, particularly in the south.

Villar said the smuggling scheme was “so simple yet it would cost the government hundreds of millions in taxes had not the team of PASG-NBI Special Operations Group (SOG) stumbled upon it during an inspection of a display lot in Marikina for multi-cabs and used Ssangyong Korando vehicles.”

PASG-NBI SOG director Edmund Arugay said a mission order signed by Villar was served to the Stars Truck Co., the owner of the display lot on J.P. Rizal Street in Barangay Concepcion Uno in Marikina City.

The firm’s secretary, Jean Rado, claimed the Stars Truck owns all the vehicles on display except for the five Ssangyong Korandos.

The PASG found that the five Ssangyong vehicles arrived at the MICP in September last year and were consigned to Parkload Inc., owned and managed by a certain Peter Park, a Korean national. The broker was identified as Mylene Tales.

Villar said the manifest showed the vehicles were simply declared as used engines. “Declaring vehicles as simply engines is in itself a crime, a clear case of misdeclaration,” he said.

Villar said Department of Trade and Industry records show Park is not authorized to import “vehicle spare parts for rebuilding purposes.”

PASG is preparing charges against the importer, consignee, broker and customs officials at the MICP.