Calimlim vows to continue drive vs smugglers

Presidential anti-smuggling task force chief Lt. Gen. Jose Calimlim vowed yesterday to continue going after smugglers despite strong opposition to his unit's mode of operations.

At a press conference, Calimlim denied that his Task Force Aduana had violated any laws in their raids, adding the unit has had good working relations with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"No matter who disagrees with or is against us, we will not be deterred. No one will stop us from pursuing our job. I told my men they should not be cowed by criticism and pressure," he said.

Troops belonging to Task Force Aduana launched an air and ground assault on the coastal village of Poro Pingit in Magsingal town, Ilocos Sur last Saturday, and confiscated motorcycles and household appliances from surprised villagers.

The task force, backed by two helicopter gunships, recovered 443 motorcycles including 18 big racing bikes, as well as 20 television sets and video and tape recorders believed to have been smuggled into the country by ships coming from Japan, Taiwan and China.

Reacting to criticism from provincial officials that the task force used martial law-like tactics in apprehending suspects and confiscating goods, Calimlim said everything was undertaken in accordance with the law.

"Of course, we had to use some deception tactics so the suspects would not be alerted. We wanted to avoid a violent confrontation or firefight," he said.

The task force chief noted that previous raids in Ilocos Sur failed because law enforcers were either fired upon by the suspects or were bribed and pressured by powerful politicians.

Calimlim said he was given the go-signal by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson to push through with the raid when the latter was informed about the operation weeks before.

A verbal skirmish between Singson and Calimlim ensued following the incident in Barangay Poro Pingit last Saturday.

The governor charged that the raid, which he branded as "martial law type," also led to the detention in Camp Crame of some of his constituents whom he described as "poor and small people" trying to earn a living.

Calimlim said the smuggling of motorcycles and appliances has been going on at Poro Pingit since the 1980s.

Task Force Aduana, created by President Estrada last October, is a composite unit with operatives from the Presidential Security Group, BOC, Economic Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, Armed Forces Intelligence Service, Navy, Air Force and the PNP.

The group has already seized some P1.11 billion in assorted items during the first two months of its existence.

Calimlim pointed out that Task Force Aduana has already filed five criminal cases in court and 30 seizure proceedings against suspected smugglers.