New anti-smuggling czar

By Eva C. Visperas

He phoned in the good news to me a few days ago. But   truth is, he had been saying his reservations about accepting his new position because it’s really a very tough job.

In fact, when the news was relayed to him no less by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo about his new appointment prior to the elections, he asked for some time to think about it first.

Then came the time to say yes.

Since Monday, reports started to circulate that he’s the one, the new anti- smuggling czar.

The former mayor of Sto. Tomas, known in his more than 20 years rule as a disciplinarian, is now the government’s new anti-smuggling czar after he was appointed recently by Arroyo as Presidential Assistant For Anti-Smuggling under the Office of the President with the rank of undersecretary.

Antonio ‘Bebot” Villar Jr., currently undersecretary for Local Governance also under the Office of the President, received his new appointment dated  May 21, 2007 signed by Arroyo.

Villar said he is very thankful to the President for the trust and confidence she gave him to be at the forefront of the Presidential Anti Smuggling Group (PASG).

“I know this is a tough job and I am determined to do my best in order not to fail the President’s expectations,” Villar told this corner in a phone talk.

He said under his watch, he hopes to bring in more revenues to the government.

Arroyo also signed on the same day 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.

The EO states that the prevention of smuggling and other related fraudulent practices against existing laws is one of the urgent concerns of the administration, an essential requirement in fact, for the success of the government’s economic reforms.

It added that the creation of a presidential body directly mandated and empowered to investigate and prosecute smuggling and other unlawful importation is necessary to effectively counteract these activities which are inimical to the economy.

The PASG shall be 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 Bureau of Customs (BOC), as well as from other government agencies that may be needed by the PASG in the performance of its functions.

The operation of the PASG in the performance of its functions is nationwide in scope. It has the power to adopt appropriate measures in preventing smuggling and other similar acts in violation of existing laws, to effect searches, seizures and arrests in conformity with the provisions of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.

It is also empowered to enlist the assistance of any department, bureau, office or agency or any instrumentality of the government, principally from the government agencies mentioned earlier, including government-owned or controlled corporations, to carry out its functions, including the use of their respective personnel, facilities and resources if necessary.

It will also conduct verification with the BOC 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.

Executive Order No. 509 dated March 15, 2006 that created the anti-smuggling  task force is hereby repealed by the this new EO creating PASG, as well as all other orders, issuances,  rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent   with this new Executive Order.

After the lengthy talk came my usual “Good luck, sir!”

But with a bit of warning: “Mas dadami ang gustong maging kaibigan mo niyan, pati kamag-anak. Kaya, ingat!”

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/business-log/)

 

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