Chavit gets tongue-lashing

President Estrada castigated yesterday his friend and close political ally, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, who had severely criticized his chief security aide Lt. Gen. Jose Calimlim for an anti-smuggling raid in Ilocos Sur last weekend.

The presidential tongue-lashing was made on dzMM radio following a verbal skirmish between Singson and Calimlim over the raid in Barangay Poro Pingit in Magsingal town last Saturday.

Singson complained that the raid, which he said was reminiscent of martial law, also led to the detention at Camp Crame of some of his constituents whom he described as "poor and small people" trying to earn a living.

At the same time, Singson reiterated his proposal for the posting of Customs policemen in the ports of his province to check on the reported rampant smuggling of motorcycles and appliances.

The governor also dared Calimlim to check on the alleged involvement of some Philippine Navy personnel in smuggling.

While Mr. Estrada acknowledged the need to deploy Customs personnel in Ilocos Sur, he stressed that their absence does not mean license to engage in smuggling.

The Chief Executive also argued that the law does not recognize the social status of an offender. "Under the law, there is no rich or poor (people)," he said.

However, the President indicated that he was amenable to Singson's suggestion to let the arrested suspects off the hook by simply allowing them to pay the corresponding taxes.

"I will ask the finance department how we can arrange it," Mr. Estrada said.

He pointed out that his administration decided to intensify its anti-smuggling campaign amid reports that smuggled goods were coming into the country in large volumes, particularly through the coastal areas of Davao, Cebu and Ozamis.

The Chief Executive recalled that five ships engaged in smuggling were impounded by Task Force Aduana in Ozamis City late last year. "That is why I fully support Calimlim and his men in Aduana," he said.

Citing Malacañang's experience in the "hot" car issue, Mr. Estrada said the smugglers used their money to launch a smear campaign against the government and undermine the stepped-up anti-smuggling operations.

On the other hand, Calimlim vowed to look into reports that some of his men fired their guns and manhandled certain villagers during the raid.

Meanwhile, the Gestapo-like raid on Poro Pinget village has drastically changed its people's lifestyle and attitude towards strangers.

The motorcycles and motorbikes which used to criss-cross all over the community are suddenly gone, while the villagers have become wary of newcomers. Townfolk decline to coomment about the raid conducted by fully armed soldiers, backed up by helicopter gunships and armored personnel carriers.

The villagers even refused to talk to a group of provincial employees on a mission to document and collate their complaints about the raid led by Calimlim, head of Task Force Aduana and concurrent commander of the Presidential Security Group and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Even those who allegedly lost their prize possessions to the raiders declined to narrate their harrowing experience for fear of getting into deeper trouble.

They plan, however, to march to the provincial capitol to air their grievances.