Friday, October 24, 2008 (Philippines)

Ariel Palcuto, who was involved in a controversy over the seizure of a van in which PASG Manila used the local NBI instead of PASG Cebu. Right: the Sun.Star page one story in its issue of Sept. 30, 2008. (Sun.star file) THE Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) has ordered the relief of Supt. Ariel Palcuto as director of PASG-Cebu, effective last Wednesday. Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr., the PASG chief, clarified Palcuto’s relief has nothing to do with the officer’s recent misunderstanding with PASG operations director Edmundo Arugay over the raid on a tile shipment. Palcuto confirmed his relief effective Oct. 22, as stated in an order signed by Villar. [full story]