THE Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) was ordered to explain why it failed to turn over seized vehicles to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
But the agency may have a lot more explaining to do.
Cebu Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 9 Judge Geraldine Faith Econg inspected the 18 vehicles yesterday and the results weren’t pretty.
Lawyer Chevin Vasquez, the branch clerk of court, said that of the 18 vehicles, only 16 were found for the inventory. Of these vehicles, only nine matched the submitted chassis number indicated in an earlier order, and five could not be opened.
Some vehicles did not have tires anymore while others lacked stereos. Some had broken windshields. Some had lost their engines.
“Maybe that was already the case when the cars were seized, that’s why we need an explanation,” Vasquez told reporters yesterday. For now, there is no proof that
thieves “cannibalized” the vehicles.
It was the second time Econg and her staff visited the PASG office for a site inspection.
However, Vasquez said no one would receive Econg’s order anymore.
Order
The order was addressed to resigned PASG deputy director Ricardo Collantes. But since Collantes left his PASG post with the intention of going back to his mother unit, the BOC, he was not at his former office to receive the order.
No one would receive it for him.
“Collantes is directed to explain why he failed to turn over the seized cars within reasonable time to the BOC for the administrative determination of whether or not these cars are imported into the Philippines in violation of the Tariff and Customs Code,” read Econg’s order.
Collantes was given five days from receipt of the order to reply.
Judge Econg also ordered Collantes to conduct an inventory of the vehicles in the presence of Atty. Vasquez.
Last April, PASG and the Regional Intelligence Office raided a Mandaue City firm where 18 allegedly smuggled Korean-made vehicles were seized.
Found were several units of Kia Rio, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Sportage, taken from Song Pa Motors Trading. The cars have Land Transportation Office-issued plate numbers, which turned out to have been used by other vehicles.
Motion
The raid was authorized by a search warrant that Judge Econg issued.
The firm was under the name of Michael Nengasca, who claimed to be “only an employee” of three Korean nationals who owned the company.
Collantes submitted an urgent motion for transfer of custody and forfeiture of the seized vehicles from PASG to BOC, which he believes has primary jurisdiction of the seized automobiles.
Collantes also mentioned how then PASG Director Ariel Palcuto was relieved of his post last Oct. 22, and his ensuing resignation from the group, which should hasten the turnover of the vehicles.
The motion also asked the court to order the BOC to conduct forfeiture proceedings against Song Pa, for violation of the Customs and Tariff Code and Executive Order
156, which bans the importation of used cars.
Judge Econg was compelled to conduct the inventory by Collantes’ absence. An inventory was part of the judge’s orders to the former PASG official. (JGA)
