Saturday, November 08, 2008 PASG to turn over to court cars seized from warehouse
THE former deputy director of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG)-Cebu yesterday said they will turn over to the Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Monday all 18 seized vehicles intact and not cannibalized as reported.
Jojo Collantes, who resigned from PASG following the relief of PASG-Cebu Director Ariel Palcuto, said the new PASG team has no knowledge about the 18 vehicles they seized from a Korean firm. Hence, they failed to guide RTC Judge Geraldine Faith Econg when she visited the PASG yard.
“The vehicles are still intact. We are getting stencils of the engine and chassis of the vehicles, and we are submitting all of them to the court during the hearing on Monday,” Collantes said.
Collantes said that contrary to reports, it is impossible for PASG-Cebu to cannibalize the vehicles because they were the ones who requested the court that they will turn over the vehicles over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Collantes said that in fact he was the one who filed a motion to the court to allow them to transfer the vehicles to customs authorities.
He said PASG-Cebu was also the one who secured a search warrant from Econg before they raided Song Pa Motors located at Gate 3 of Sacris Ext., Mandaue City last April 19.
Son Pa Motors
Collantes said PASG-Cebu seized the vehicles from Song Pa Motors, which is owned by Korean nationals, for violation of Executive Order 256 issued by President Arroyo in 2003. The order prohibits the importation of used vehicles.
The vehicles are Kia Rio, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Sportage, among others.
EO 256 was declared valid by the Supreme Court in a ruling in 2006. It was implemented in December 2007.
The Koreans used a certain Michael Mengasca as dummy in the illegal vehicle business, PASG Cebu said. (EOB)
