Bogus anti-smuggling group busted

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Combined law enforcement forces raided and busted on Tuesday the office of a bogus anti-smuggling commission under the Office of the President.

City Police director Senior Supt. Edwin de Ocampo said the raid was carried out by the joint operative with a strength of search warrant following reports on the existence of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Commission (PASC) inside the Baliwasan Commercial Complex in Barangay Baliwasan.

However, the fake operatives managed to elude arrest sensing the raiding plans of the joint operatives of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine Center for Transnational Crime, Regional Intelligence Division, City Police Office, Naval Intelligence Service Group and Regional Public Safety Battalion.

“Maybe, they have sensed our operation and hastily abandoned their office here,” De Ocampo said.

The caretaker of the complex said the bogus presidential anti-smuggling agents have already paid P10,000 in advance as rental for the office space and have set up their office with the PASC signboard. 

Police said there were reports the groups have also conducted some raids in various warehouses of businessmen in the city.

However, De Ocampo said they have already identified some of the members and have directed the tracking operation for their arrest.

“We would like to inform the general public that the Presidential Anti-smuggling Commission is an illegitimate agency of the government,”

Among those being pursued were identified as certain Col. Kasim, Col. Karanain Ibrahim, Capt. Malik Unno, Rommel Salih, a certain Rogel, Col.Massilam, John Does and Jane Does.

De Ocampo said the operation of the group was clearly for extortion of businessmen.

De Ocampo said that under the Executive Order No. 18 dated Dec. 9, 2010 signed by President Benigno Aquino III, it has abolished the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group.

The police official added that an entrapment operation in Davao City last month by operatives led by the PAOCC resulted to the arrest of four PASC personalities identified as Hadji Bangcula Tawasil Pang Koh, retired police Col. Prudencio Gadingan Enojo, Police Officer 2 Elbonn Abubakar Appiand and PO2 Sibre Basal Ismael.

De Ocampo said the government operatives recovered from the suspects identification cards bearing the presidential seal, a travel order, letterheads with the address of the Office of the President, and two short firearms.

A case of usurpation and robbery with intimidation were filed against the suspects.

A certification from the office of the president showed that the arrested suspects were not employed or connected with the office of the president or PAOCC.