LINGAYEN–“I will do my part.”

This was the response of Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr., head of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG), to the appeal of Gov. Amado Espino Jr. to help curb the smuggling of agricultural products into the province.

Espino made the appeal when Villar attended the capital town’s fiesta celebration last week.

Villar, for his part, told The PUNCH he assured the governor that he will definitely assist the local government in dealing with the problem that has been hurting local businessmen.

The agricultural goods being smuggled into Pangasinan from neighboring provinces include onions and chicken and pork meat.

Villar, speaking during the fiesta celebration, warned smugglers that he does not practice the “padrino” system.

“Yang padrino system, hindi ko sinusunod yan (I don’t follow that padrino system),” he said.

The padrino system, a common practice in Philippine politics, is invoked informally as a form of mediation or influence peddling capitalizing on the “hiya” and “utang ng loob” culture by and among individuals to arrive at desired results to favor one party or another.

“It’s easy to get rich with my position but I want Pangasinan to be proud of me,” he said, eliciting applause from the people.

Villar, who currently moves around with tight security, said he remains committed to his intensive anti-smuggling campaign despite numerous threats from moneyed and influential people.

SUBIC

Meanwhile, Villar also vowed to strengthen the anti-smuggling efforts at the Subic Bay Freeport after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently issued Executive Order 687 placing Task Force Subic under him in concurrent capacity.

Villar said he is very grateful to the President for her trust and confidence in him and the PASG as a whole.

EO 687 aims to address the large-scale smuggling and fraud at the freeport area in Zambales.

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