MANILA, Philippines - Iginiit kahapon ng Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) na handa silang umalis sa kanilang opisina sa sandaling iutos na ito ni Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.
Ginawa ng PASG ang pahayag sa gitna ng sinabi ni Justice Secretary Leila de Lima na pagrerekomenda nitong buwagin ang PASG.
Ayon kay PASG director Jeffrey Patawaran, malaki ang kanilang respeto kay Sec. de Lima kaya nagulat sila sa pagrerekomenda nitong buwagin ang PASG.
Sabi ni Patawaran, handa nilang ilahad kay Sec. Lima ang mga nagawa ng PASG sa paglaban sa mga smugglers.
“We agree to some extent of de Lima’s statements that we have served our purpose. Yes, we have arrested smugglers, apprehended P15 billion drugs, P85 million worth of cocaine, P250 million worth of loose diamonds and precious jewelry, P300 million worth of aquatic and farm products, P100 million worth of flour and rice, filed cases against more than 120 BOC employees and private individuals, including Commissioner Napoleon Morales and three oil firms, which resulted in the payment of billions of pesos in taxes to the BOC. Our lesson in seriously implementing our mandate is the fact that we increased numbers of enemies and death threats. PASG officials are convinced that smuggling is a multi billion peso syndicate and the smugglers are determined to cough more just to get anyone out of their way,” giit pa ng PASG official.