Villar vows to work closely with BoC
Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr., head of the newly created Presidential Anti Smuggling Group (PASG), promises to closely coordinate with the Bureau of Customs (BoC) in the effort to curb smuggling in the country.
“Hindi ako magiging kontrabida sa Customs kundi magtutulungan kami pareho para malabanan ang smuggling,” said Villar, a native of Sto. Tomas town.
The newly-created PASG has come under fire, particularly from opposition Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
“With the PASG there, people will be compelled to pay the right taxes, generating more funds for the government in the amount of billions of pesos,” Villar said as he noted that the BoC has a P7.5 billion shortfall in its target collection.
He added that the P50 million budget allotted by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the PASG, which Estrada questioned, “is just a cuticle compared to the revenues the PASG will help bring in for the government”.
Villar also denied that presidential brother, Diosdado “Buboy” Macapagal Jr. had a hand in his appointment.
“Nobody recommended me for the said position. I was personally chosen by the President,” he said.
Mrs. Arroyo signed on May 21 Executive Order (EO) No. 624 creating the PASG “to apprehend, seize, investigate and prosecute acts involving smuggling, unlawful importation and other similar violations, and providing measure to curtail smuggling and expedite seizure proceedings”.
PASG is composed of elements from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, National Food Authority, Philippine Maritime Authority, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Navy, Bureau of Food and Drugs and BoC.
Part of its functions is to conduct verification of documents pertaining to payment of duties and taxes of imported commodities and goods, to inspect warehouses where seized commodities are stored to ensure that such commodities are not being ferreted out or removed without proper documentation and to suppress and prevent all other economic frauds, as may be directed by the President.–EVA
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