2 Subic firms face probe on fuel smuggling

The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) is now investigating two oil firms in Subic suspected of smuggling billions of pesos worth of fuel into the country.

Scores of corrupt Bureau of Customs officials are also facing criminal and administrative charges for conniving with suspected smugglers.

PASG chief Undersecretary Antonio Villar identified the two oil firms as Oil Link and PTT.

However, he said the PASG is still double-checking the information it has on the two oil firms before filing cases against them in the next few weeks.

The government earlier filed criminal cases against another Subic oil firm, Tri-Solid, for alleged oil smuggling. According to Villar,  Tri-Solid has 138 million liters of unaccounted fuel.

“We’re building airtight cases so they (charges) will hold in court,” Villar said in a press conference in Malaca­ñang, adding that the country losses around P20 billion a year due to oil smuggling.

He said PASG received reports that Oil Link, which is reportedly a sister company of Uni-Oil, has about 12 undeclared tanker shipments of diesel or gasoline.

The government could receive some P3 billion in payment from Oil Link alone if it wins in the legal battle.

Meanwhile, Villar disclosed that President Arroyo is likely to grant the appeal of Gawad Kalinga to donate proceeds from the auction of seized smuggled vehicles to the foundation.

In his letter to Mrs. Arroyo dated Aug. 15, Gawad Kalinga founder Antonio Meloto suggested that to ensure transparency, the auction of smuggled goods must be witnessed by representatives from the SGV auditing firm and the media.

Villar said the PASG will also be donating to the Department of Social Welfare and Development smuggled  used clothing the group recently seized in Davao.