2 businessmen deny attempt to smuggle cars out of Subic

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines  – Agents of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group barged into a press conference here yesterday and took a businessman to explain to their chief, Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr., why he was accusing the PASG of harassment for stopping the exportation of 325 used vehicles to Hong Kong.

When Peter Geroue tried to talk to his lawyer, the PASG agents led by one Col. Manuel Obrera pushed him into his car for the trip to Villar’s office.

Geroue, director of DCB Trading Inc., and Mohamed Ihsan, chairman of Subic Shonan International Inc., called the press conference to explain their side on allegations that they intended to smuggle the vehicles out of the Subic Freeport instead of shipping them to Hong Kong.

DCB Trading and Subic-Shonan are among eight companies that own the shipment of used vehicles.

Geroue told The STAR the PASG had not informed them of anything wrong about the shipment.

“If PASG has proof that we are smuggling the vehicles, as they said earlier, then we dare them to charge us. But so far, we have not received any formal charges,” he said.

“Any way you look at it, this is harassment on the part of the PASG because they have no reason to stop the shipment. Our exports are legal and we have documents to prove it. If the PASG has additional requirements, then why don’t they tell us?” he added.

For his part, Ihsan said they have been doing “legitimate business” at the Subic Freeport and complying with Philippine laws.

Geroue said the PASG stopped the loading of the vehicles last Friday even after DCB and the other shippers produced export documents endorsed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and the Bureau of Customs.   – Bebot Sison Jr., Evelyn Macairan