The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group has turned over to the Bureau of Customs the 22 vehicles it earlier seized in Mandaue City for violation of the Customs and Tariff Code of the Philippines.
This after Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras ordered that the custody of the seized vehicles be transferred from the PASG to the BOC.
PASG chief for Central Visayas Ariel Palcuto earlier filed a motion asking the court to order the transfer of custody of the vehicles. Peras, in a one-page order dated January 9, found the motion meritorious.
Aside from the 22 units of vehicles, the court likewise ordered Palcuto to submit a report on the transfer of custody of the 910 bales of used clothing, which were seized together with the vehicles in barangay Tingub, Mandaue City last November, to the Department of Social Welfare and Development office in Region 7.
Port operations division chief Edgar Galeos received the vehicles which include six right-hand-drive Isuzu Bighorns, six converted Mitsubishi Pajeros, two Liftback Volkswagens, two Honda Civic sports cars, one Toyota Lucida van, one Suzuki multicab, one Mazda Liftback, one Mini Copper vintage car, one Mitsubishi Liftback and one Volkswagen van.
These vehicles were seized by PASG operatives at the warehouse of one Roger Balila in barangay Tingub during a raid last November 5. Also seized during the raid that was based on a search warrant issued by the court were 910 bales of used clothing.
The vehicles, after formal seizure proceedings, will be sold in a public auction. — Fred P. Languido/MEEV